/ 



38 . Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



side of the road, which descends through a deep canon, and halted 

 on the peaks of the cliffs. Their motionless forms projected against 

 the clear blue sky above, formed studies for an artist. In the can- 

 on we were joined by the priest, a fat old white man. We were 

 escorted first to the padre's, of course; for here, as every where,. 

 these men are the most intelligent, and the best to do in the world, 

 and when the good people wish to put their best foot foremost, the 

 padre's wines, beds, and couches have to suffer.. The entrance to 

 the portal was lined with the women of the village, all dressed 



ike, and 



We we: 



fat and stupid. 



, tapestried with cur- 

 tains stamped .with the likenesses of all the Presidents of the 

 United States up to this time. The cushions were of spotless 

 damask,_and the couch covered with^ a white Navajoe blanket 

 worked in richly colored flowers. 



The air was redolent with the perfume of grapes and melons, and 

 every crack of door and windows glistening with the bright eyes 

 and arms of the women of the capilla. The old priest was busily 

 talking in the corner, and little did he know the game of sighs and 

 si"gns carried on between the young fellows and the fair inmates of 

 his house. We had our gayest array of young men out to-day, and 

 the women seemed to me to drop their usual subdued look and 

 timid wave of the eye-lash for good hearty twinkles and signs of 

 unaffected and cordial welcome — signs supplying the place of con- 

 Tersation, as peither party could speak the language of the other. 

 This little exchange of the artillery of eyes was amusing enough, 

 but I was very glad to see the padre move towards the table, and 

 remove the pure white napkins from the grapes, melong, and wine. 

 We were as thirsty as heat and dust could make us, and we relished 

 the wine highly, whatever its quality. The sponge cake was irre- 

 roachable, and would have done honor to our best noirthern house- 

 eepers. Indeed, wherever we have been feasted, the spongecake 

 has been in profusion, and of the best kind. After the repast, the 

 general went forward on the portal, and delivered a speech to' the 

 assembled people 'of the town, which was first interpreted into 

 Spanish, and then into Pueblo. 



It is impossible to arrive at the precise population of the town, 

 but I should judge it to be about six hundred, and the quantity of 

 ground under tillage for thf ir support about five hundred acres. 



The valley of the Del Norte is here quite narrow, and the soil 

 sandy. The river itself was viewed by me, for the first time, with 

 a strange interest. The hardships, trials, and perseverance of the 

 gallant Pike, and the adventures of the pious and brave soldiers of 

 the cross, Rivera -and La Ford, came forcibly to my mind- as I 

 kneeled down to drink of its waters my thoughts were of 'ihem. 

 Leaving Santo Dommgo, we struck the highway in about four 

 miles, and two more brought us to the pretty village of San Felippe, 

 overhung by a steep craggy .precipice, upon the summit of which 

 are the rums of a Roman Catholic church, presenting in the land- 

 scape sketch the appearance of the pictures we see of the castles 

 on the Kame. 



