149 RAINY SEASON. 



passage of horses and carriages :" a circum- 

 stance which would be scarcely less astound- 

 ing to the New Mexicans, than would the oc- 

 currence of a similar event in the harbor of 

 New York be to her citizens. 



The great elevation of all the plains about 

 the Rocky Mountains, is perhaps the principal 

 cause of the extraordinary dryness of the at- 

 mosphere. There is but Uttle rain throughout 

 the year, except from July to October — known 

 as the rainy season ; and as tlie Missouri traders 

 usually arrive about its commencement, the 

 coincidence has given rise to a superstition, 

 quite prevalent among the vulgar, that the 

 Americans bring the rain with them. During 

 seasons of drought, especially, they look for 

 the arrival of the annual caravans as the har- 

 binger of speedy rehef 



There has never been an accurate census 

 taken in New Mexico. Of the results of one 

 which was attempted in 1832, the Secretary 

 of State at Santa Fe speaks in the following 

 terms: "At present (1841) we may estimate 

 the Spanish or white population at about 

 60,000 souls or more, being what remains of 

 5,000, which the census taken seven or eight 

 years ago showed there then existed in New 

 Mexico." He supposes that this great diminu- 

 tion resulted from the ravages of the frightful 

 diseases already alluded to. The decrease oi 

 population from these causes, however, is thus 

 greatly overrated. The discrepancy must find 

 its explanation in the original inaccuracy of 

 the census referred to. 



r? 



