[7] 



26 



» 



be because you prove the strongest In battle. I suggest to you to 

 stop at the Sapillo, and I ^viH march to thje Vegas* We will meet 

 and negotiate on the plains between them. 



The artillery were detained some time in passing the Sapillo. 

 This kept us exposed tp the sun on the plains for four hoursj-but it 

 gave the colonel time to reflect on*the message with which he should 

 dismiss the lancers; as there was some apprehension that Captain 

 ^ Cook was detained, their discharge became matter for reflection. 

 Sixteen miles brought us in sight of the VegaSj a village on the 

 stream of the same name. * " 



A halt was made at this point, and the colonel called up the lieu- 

 tenant and lancers and said to them^ ^' The road to Santa Fe is now 

 as free to you as to myself. Say to General Armijo, I shall soon 

 m.eet hlnij and I hope it wiU be as friends.'^ 



At parting, the lieutenant embraced the colonel^ Captain Turner, 

 and myself, who happened to be standing near. 



The country to-day was rftlling, almost mountainous, and cov- 

 ered -in places with scoriee. Grass begah to show itself, and was 

 interspersed with malva pedata, lippia cunefolia, and several new 

 species of geraniacae, bartonia, and convolvulus. The soil Svas 



good enough apparently, but vegetation was stunted from the want 

 of rain. As we emerged from the hills into the valley of the Vegas, 

 our eyes were greeted for the first time with waving corn. \The 

 stream was flooded, and the little drains by which the fields were 

 irrigated, full to the brim. The dry soil seemed to drink it in with 

 the avidity of our thirsty horses. -The village, at a short distance, 

 looked Itke an extensive brick-kiln. On approaching, its outline 

 presented a square with some arrangements for defence. Into this 

 square the inhabitants are sometimes compelled to retreat, with all 

 their stock, to avoid the attacks of the Eutaws and Navahoes,* who 

 pounce upon them and carry off their women, children, a;id cattle. 

 Only a few days since, they made a descent on the to\\n and car- 

 ried off 120 sheep and other stock. As Captain Cook passed'through 

 the town som,e ten days' since, a murder had just been committed 

 on these helpless people. Our camp extended for a mile down the 

 valley; on one side was the stream, on the other the cornfields, 

 with no fence or hedge interposing. What a tantalizing prospect 

 for our hungry and jaded nags; the water was free, bujl a chain of 

 sentinek was posted to protect the corn, and strict orders given 

 " that it should not be disturbed. 



Captain Turner was sentio the village to inform the alcalde that 

 the colonel wished to see him and the head men of the tow^n. In 

 a short time down came the alcalde and two "captains of militia, 

 with numerous servants, prancing and careering their little nags 

 into camp. . ■ . 



Observations. — 9 altitudes of polaris in the north, 7 of arcturus 

 in the east, and 7 of alpha aquila in the east. 

 Latitude 35° 35' -05.". 



Longitude Vi. OOm. 46^. 



Height, by the barometerj 6,418 feet. 



August 15.— 12 o'clock last night information was received that 



