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Ex. Doc. No. 41. 97 



One of the^party, who had received some little favor from Carson 

 in California, was well plied with brandy, but all that could be 

 extorted from him was the advice that we should not think of gointr 

 to the Puebla with our small force, counsel that our friend soon 

 learned we had not the slightest intention of following. 



The position of our camp, about one mile and a half south of the 

 junction of the Colorado and Gila rivers, determined by 12 circum- 

 meridian altitudes of sirius,6 of saturn, and 12 altitudes of polaris 

 is latitude 32° 42' 09". The longitude by one set of lunar dis- 

 tances, E. and W., 114^ 37' 09", which agrees with the chronome- 

 tnc determination of the same place, determined by assuming the 

 longitude of San Diego to be 117° 11'. 



The clouds, together with my military duties, interfered with 

 takmg a more elaborate- set of lunar distances. An inspection of 

 the individual observations for latitude will show that the latitude 

 of the camp may be relied on, but I regret it was not in ray powe 

 to measure the exact distance of our camp from the mouth of the 

 Gila. 



At night, passing my arm over tjie surface of the fur robe in 

 which I was enveloped, electric sparks were discharged in such 

 quantities as to make a vfery "luninous appearance, and a noise like 

 the rattle of a snake. ; - 



We visited, the camp of our -Mexican friends, 

 whom the general determined tp release, and found there was a 

 Woman with the party in the agonies of childbirth. She was at 

 once furnished from our stores with all the comforts we possessed. 

 This poor creature had been dragged along, in her delicate situa- 

 tion, over a fearful desert. 



JYo 



The captured horses were all wild and but little adapted for im- 

 mediate service, but there was rare sport in catching them, and we 

 saw for the first time the lazo thrown with inimitable skill. It is 

 a saying in Chihuahua that " a Californian can throw the lazo as 

 Well with his foot as a Mexican can with his hand," and the scene 

 before us gave us an idea of its truth. There was a wild stallion 

 of great beauty which defied the fleetest horse and the most expert 

 rider. At length a boy of fourteen, a Californian, whose graceful 

 riding was the constant subject of admiration, piqued by repeated 

 failures, mounted a fresh horse, and, followed by an Indian 



launched fiercely at the stallion. 

 His lareat darted 



f 



a rifle ball, and rested on the neck of the fugitive; the Indian at 

 the same moment, made a successful throw, but the stallion was 

 too stout for both, and dashed ofl* at full speed, with both ropes fly- 

 m the air like wings. The perfect representation of Pegasus, he 

 took a sweeps and followed by his pursuers, came thunderfng down 

 the dry bed of the river. The lazos were now trailin^r on tbp 



ground, and the gallant young Spaniard, taking advantage of the 

 circumstance, stooped from his flying horse and caught one in his 

 hand. It was the work of a moment to make it fast to the pommel 

 of his saddle, and by a short turn of his own horse, he threw the 



stallion a complete somerset, and the game was secure. 



7 . 



