REMITTANCES. 307 



would involve, New adventurers, too, are 

 apt to become discouraged with an unantici- 

 pated dullness of times, and not unfrequently 

 sell off at wholesale for the best price they 

 can get, though often at a serious loss. But 

 those who are regularly engaged in this trade 

 usually calculate upon employing a season — 

 perhaps a year m closing an enterprise 

 selhnsr off their sroods and makinsr thej 



m 



turn-"* 



s. 



The wagons of the return caravans are 

 generally but lightly laden : one to two thou- 

 sand pounds constitute the regular return car- 

 go for a single wagon ; for not only are the 

 teams unable to haul heavy loads, on account 

 of the decay of pasturage at this season, but 

 the approaching winter compels the traders 

 to travel in greater haste ; so that this trip is 

 usually made in about forty days. The" 

 amount of frei^-ht, too, from that direction is 



comparatively small. The remittances, as 

 has already been mentioned, are chiefly in spe- 

 cie or gold and silver bulUon. The gold is 

 mostly dust, from the Placer or gold mine near 

 Santa Fe : the silver buUicn is all from the 

 mines of the South — chiefly from those of 

 Chihuahua. To these returns may be added 

 a considerable number of mules and asset 

 some buffalo rugs, furs, and wool, — which 

 last barely pays a return freight for the wagons 

 that would otherwise be empty. Coarse 

 Mexican blankets, which may be obtained in 

 exchange for merchandise, have been sold in 

 small quantities to advantage on our border. 



