CHARACTER OF THE ROUTE. 77 
Two or three miles above the piaza there is a 
dam of stone and brush across the river, the 
purpose of which is to turn the current into a 
dike or canal, which conveys nearly half the 
water of the stream, during a low stage, 
through this well cultivated valley, for the ir- 
rigation of the soil. Here we were regaled 
with the finest fruits of the season: the grapes 
especially were of the most exquisite flavor. 
From these the inhabitants manufacture a 
bi pleasant wine, somewhat resembling Ma- 
A species of aguardiente (brandy) is 
aa distilled from the same fruit, which, al- 
though weak, is of very agreeable flavor. 
These liquors are known among Americans 
as ‘ Pass wine’ and ‘ Pass whiskey,’ and consti- 
tute a profitable article of trade, supplying the 
markets of Chihuahua and New Mexico.* 
As I have said before, the road ftom Santa 
Fé to El Paso leads partly along the margin 
of the Rio del Norte, or across the bordering 
hills and plains; but the sierra which sepa- 
rates the waters of this river and those of the 
Rio Pecos was always visible on our left. In 
some places it is cut up into detached ridges, 
one of which is known as Sierra Blanca, in 
consequence of its summit’s being covered 
with snow till late in the spring, and having all 
ae is very little wine or legitimate aguardiente manufac- 
tured in New Mexico. There was not a distillery, mayen in all 
the ae oe until established by Americans some fifteen or twenty 
ears ago. Since that period, considerable quantities of . whiahee 
fave been made there, sartceladly in the vicinity .of Taos,—dis 
tilled mainly from as this is the cheapest grain the country 
7 
