Ex. Doc. No. 41. 443 



tal plain; and, when we looked to our right hand, we saw another 

 horizontal plain yet higher than the one we were then "travelling 

 onj and covered also with a bed of volcanic rock about five feet 

 in thickness- Keeping close to the foot of this highest *^ mesa^'^ 

 we reached the " Ocatej'' as it is a canoned, that is, is enclosed 

 With high rocky walls, we were forced ,to go two miles up stream 

 in order to reach the crossing. As it was only 3 o'clock, and I 



had hopes of reaching the next camping ground before dark, we 



V 



continued our march, although we had already come 22 miles. We 

 travelled until night fell upon us without finding any water. I 

 had not yet sufficiently recovered to bear such a journey, and was 

 obliged to get into the wagon. The night was very dark, and we 

 travelled along with considerable difficulty, as the driver could 

 scarcely see the road. At last we heard the joyful cry of water, 

 and we found ourselves close by some fine pools, that were, fortu- 

 nately, just in the road, or wecould not have seen them. This 

 was an old camping place, and in hunting around we stumbled on 

 some charred sticks, that had helped to cook the dinner of those 

 who had preceded us, and now cooked ours. 



We had now reached ^^ ponds in the prairie, '^ 18 miles distant 

 from the Ocate, and have made a day's journey of 40 miles, having 

 come from the Rayada to the '^ ponds in the prairie.'' 



September 23. — We had scarcely left our camp when the signs of 

 •civilization broke upon us; in moving along the valleys, we saw 

 flocks of sheep, droves of horses, and large herds of cattle. These 

 are guarded night and day by lads who, in the language of the 

 country, are termed ^^pastores;'^ they were miserably clad in tattered 

 blankets, and armed with bows and arrows; these and their 

 big shepherd dogs constitute their sole defence, although they are 

 subject to be attacked by the Indians, and their fliocks and herds 

 by Indians and wolves. 



After a march of five miles, we reached the ^^Rio Moro," and 

 passing several ^^corales," or (enclosures, we at last came in sight 

 of some adobe houses. The proprietor of one of those houses was 

 an American, named Boney, who has since been murdered by his 

 "peons." He invited us to alight and enter his house, .where he 

 treated us to milk, cool from the cellar. In his house there were 

 a dozen fire-locks of different kinds, escopettes, fusils, rifles, and 

 muskets. The residents of the other houses were New Mexicans. 

 As we passed by, they profi'ered us some "aquardiente," or liquor. 

 I told them that we did not wish any; at which they seemed much 

 surprised, crying out ^^Vmd. no quiere aquardiente! Vmd, cierta- 

 mente no es Americano." Notwithstanding: this risk of being de- 

 nationalized, we refused the aquardiente. They then brought us"^ 

 some fresh mutton, that I consented to purchase, and it proved to 

 be excellent. 



There is very good pasture grounds along the Rio Moro. The 

 yalley is from 60 to 70 miles long, and increases in width to its 

 junction with the valley of the Canadiano. 



Shortly after crossing the "Moro," we forded the "Rio Sepulloj" 

 both of these streams contain an abundant supply of water. The 



