448 Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



4 



qualifications necessary lo his office, possesses those of a long resi- 

 dencl in this country, a constant intercourse with the people, and 

 an intimate knowledge of their langi^age and character. 



In the afternoon I strolled through the *'plaza," or public square. 

 On the north side is the palace, occupying the whole side of the 

 square. On the remaining sides one finds the stores of the mer- 

 chants and traders, and in the centre of the square a tall flag staff 

 has been erected, from which the banner of freedom now waves. 

 There all the country people congregate to sell their marketing, 

 and one constantly sees objects to amuse. Trains of " burros" are 

 continually entering the city, laden with kegs of Taos whiskey or 

 immense packs of fodder, melons, wood, or grapes. Our own sol- 

 diers, too, are constantly passing and repassing, or mingling with 

 the motley groups of Mexicans and Pueblo Indians. 



The markets have^ in addition to the articles already mentioned, 

 great quantities of " Chili Colorado," and "verde," "cebollas" or 

 onions, "sandias" or water melons, "huevos" or eggs, "queso" or 

 cheese, and "hojas" or corn husks, neatly tied up in bundles for 

 making the cigarritos, ^'punche" or tobacco, "uvas" or grapes, and 

 "pinones," nuts of the pine tree, (pinus monophyllus.) These last 

 are slightly baked to make them keep, and are brought to market 

 in great quantities. Besides these things, there are many varieties 

 of bread, and several kinds of meat. The Pueblo Indians bring in 

 great q^uantities of peaches which are here called "duraznos." In the 



The Mexican 

 thed much after 

 the manner of our own females. Stuffs most rich, and skirts of 

 monstrous width or fullness. While sitting down they were 

 wrapped in splendid shawls. These w-ere generally thrown over 

 the head like the reboza. They gazed round the room with great 

 copaplaisance as they smoked their cigarritos. Waltzing forms the 

 chief part of all their dances. The principal ones are the "cumbe," 

 and the "Italiano." These pebple have an excellent notion of 

 time, fine voices, and seemed to be enthusiastically fond of music. 

 They are polite to excess, and I hear them often exclaim at what 

 they call rudeness of the Americans, saying "no tienen verguenza," 

 for a Mexican never even lights his cigarrito without asking your 

 consent, "con su licencia senor." . • 



At this dance I had the pleasure of tasting some of the wine 

 from "El passo del Norte," which in its delicious flavor realized 

 all I had anticipated. 



September 29.— As I had found orders from General Kearny, di- 

 recting the survey of New Mexico, with Lieutenant Peck of the 

 topographical engineers, I set out this morning to visit the gold 

 mines, between thirty and forty miles to the south of Santa Fe. 

 Having made all our preparations yesterday, we were enabled to 

 get off very early this morning. The first nine miles of our road 

 led us through groves of cedar and pifion; at length we got upon 

 the bare valley, where nought is to be seen but the cactus, and a 

 scant growth of grass, and the yucca; and along the road great 

 numbers of horned lizzards. Towards the latter oart of the daf 



evening I attended a ball,, here styled a fandango, 

 ladies had laid aside their "rebozas," and were clol 



