Ex. Doc. No. 41. 447 



picturej for every cloud, every degree that the sun moves, gives 

 such varied effects to the landscape, that one has a thoust5*d pic- 

 tures; but their effects are so fleeting, that although they last long 

 enough to delight the spectator, it would yet perplex the artist to 

 catch these changes. For my part, I tried, and tried in vain, until 

 at last some large night herons came sweeping over my head, and * 

 warned me that the shades of evening were drawing on, when I re- 

 turned to camp. 



September 27. — Santa Fe is now within 29 miles of us, and we 

 at length feel as if we were about to reach the ^^ ultima thule" 

 of our wishes. 



r 



Although the road was difficult on account of the high hills and 

 deep defiles over which we would have to pass, yet I determined to 

 enter Santa Fe this day. I proceeded somewhat faster than the 

 wagons, and before long overtook two Spaniards on their way to 

 the same place. As they knew the route perfectly, I accepted 

 their proffered guidance through the short cuts by the canons in the 

 mountains. At length we reached Armijo's caiion. Here we found 

 plenty of cool water, where we all dismounted to allow our mules 

 a little rest, when my friends produced from their wallets some 

 sweet '^bizcochos,'' which they persisted in sharing with me, I 

 by good luck, had some buffalo tongue in my pocket, that added 

 not a little to our rural repast. We again mounted^ but, before 

 proceeding far, met a man driving a '^ carreta.'^ My amio-os 

 now signified their intention of stopping some time, and, bidding 

 me " vaya con dios," I'le/t them and hurried on, for a time follow- 

 ing the course of the stream which is a tributary of '' Rio de 

 Galisteo," ' .; ^ 



I now left the stream and commenced the steep ascent of the 

 mountains, whose sides are overgrown with the pitch pine and the 

 pinon. On the far side of the steep I met Colonel Ruff, of the 

 Missouri volunteers, returning to the United States, and Judo-e 

 Houghton, one of the judges of the supreme court of New Mexico. 



We stopped to exchange what new^s we had, and then separated, 

 I with a new i pulse to move forward, for I learned that Santa Fe 

 was but 12 mi es distant. About 5 o'clock I came in sight of a 

 square block f mud buildings one story high. In a little w^hile 

 after, I caught sight of the flag of my country waving proudly over > 

 some low flat oofed buildings that lay in the valley. I knew this 

 must be Santa Fe. I hurried on, and was soon seated amongst ray 

 friends, who ^- .'oked upon me as one awakened from the dead. 



2Sth. 



M 



at a funeral. They marched with great rapidity through the 

 streets near the. church, with a band of music. The instruments 

 were principally violins, and these were played furiously, sending 

 forth wild raging music. The corpse, that of a child, was exposed 

 to view, decked with rosettes and flauntinor ribands of various bril- 

 liant hues, and the mourners talked and laughed gaily, which 

 seemed to me most strange. I was told, too, that the tunes played 

 were the same as those which sounded at the fandangoes. 



In the morning I called upon Governor Bent, w^ho, to all the 



