444 Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



Moro is 15 feet wide, and averages one foot in ^epth at the ford. 

 The Rio "Sepullo" is smaller, but worthy of the greatest share of 

 notice, as it is the point at which we again meet the road that we 

 left at the crossing of the Arkansas. Although that road avoids 

 the terrible canon of the Raton, yet the scarcity of water is so 

 great that, in dry seasons, the teams get broke down, and one is 

 obliged to send into New Mexico for fresh animals. 



During the march, we saw several immense rattlesnakes; one 

 happened to be crossing the road directly in my path. I heard it 

 rattle, and my mule springing back several yards and getting en- 

 tangled with the leading mules in the wagon, the trace chains be- 

 came unhooked, and for a little time threw the whole team into 

 contusion. 



Towards the latter part of our route, the road was strewed with 



Iragments of hard blue limestone, that made 'the wagon rattle away 



at a great rate. After a march in all of 27 miles, we reached 



J-as Vegas. As it was near sundown, we deferred visiting the 



village until the next morning. 



We soon sat down to a supper of ducks, (fulica Americana;) they 

 were very fat, and although a species of duck not very highly ap- 

 preciated in the United States, still I think it must be merely 



owing to prejudice. They are generally known as the common 

 coot. . 



September 24.— As soon as we arose a Mexican came over to pay 

 us a visit; he was mounted on a fine horse, and appeared to be on 

 duty, guarding the corn fields that lay around the town, for they 

 nave no fences to protect them against devastation from the cattle 

 tnat are grazing near them. 



Our "amigo" rendered us great assistance in harnessing a wild 

 mule, for we were obliged to tie the fore feet, and blindfold it, be- 

 fore the harness could be arranged. We now entered the town of 

 i.as V egas. Ihere was a large open space in the middle of the 

 town: the strPPl..rnnn...i,„.^..„.. ..^_. ' wcstj the houses 



n; the streets run north and south, east and 

 C..C built of "adobes." The "azoteas," or roofs, have just enough 

 inclination to turn the rain, and the walls of the houses, which 



are continued up one foot above the roof, are pierced for this pur- 

 pose. Ihrough the midst of the town there was a-large "acequia," 

 irdTa^tm the^^fidr'^"*^^ °^ supplying the town with water, and of 



anvM^n^'f 'M^ u c^V ^'^^^ *^"^ «^ ^^e inhabitants' if he had 

 h^L.T 1 ''"' A?V- ^'"°^ Caballero; tengo maize, elote cala- 

 co?n 'on th"''' ^ ^^'^' tambien," and he soon brought me some 

 after I b«H . '"V VT P"«^P^^^^^» melons, and red pepper; and, 

 pockef saving cN^^^ ^-^ purchases, he pulled a bottle out of his 



Two mile/ n^k ? «f '4 ^°'^; ^^Jske." This was the alcalde, 

 iwo miles south of ^^ Las Vegas " 



d as if 



^ ■% 



Af in ^>«i 1 ^^v/iii lue uiouniains. 



march of 19 L^f ""t "^'^^^. '^^' ^^"«g« °f » Tacalote," after a 

 march of 12 miles. I was obliged to camp here or else go to the 



