Ex. Doc. No. 41. 465 



It is difficult, however, to approach within shooting distance, al- 

 though they will generally allow one to approach quite close with- 

 out a gun. 



We purchased two sheep from the priest of Albuquerque; he in- 

 Tited us into his house, and gave us some delightful grape brandy 

 While there, an old Senor from " PadUlas" entered the foom, wilh 

 a Spanish version of General Kearny's ofder for an expedition 

 against the Navajoes. _ He had with him a long list, including the 

 the names of all the principal people in New Mexico who agreed 

 to furnish men to join Colonel Doniphan's command. 



• While Lieutenant Peck and I were conversing with the priest 

 he asked us our names and professions. We told him- and as 

 soon as he understood that we belonged to the corps of topograph- 

 ical engineers, he said: "Ah! I suppose, then, you know somlthing 

 of astronomy and mathematics?" We replied, » A littlej" where- 

 upon he got a piec^of paper and pencil, and drew several figures 

 saying, " este es el fcuadrol" yes, that is a square; " este un cerco'?'' 

 yes, sir; "y este es un triangulof yes, that is a triangle. Then 

 throwing up the pencil, and rubbing his hands in great glee, "Ah' 

 Toy que vind son a^tronomos y mathematicos." Thus, we were 

 pronounced^ by the padre of Albuquerque to be astronomers and 

 mathematicians. Soon after this discussion of the exact sciences 

 a very handsome lady, who graced the establishment, entered the 

 room, and he presented us to her; saying: " Estos caballeros son 

 astronomos y mathematicos." 



We were well pleased with our visit, and did not leave our friend 

 until late; and he endeavored to make our time as agreeable as 

 kindness and politeness were capable of making it. 

 ^ Begging his permission, we bade him adieu and started down the 

 nver. We soon reached the ford, where we crossed the Rio de! 

 JNorte, and entered the .town of "Atrisco." Here we got fast in an 

 acequia," and were obliged to get a spade and dig down the banks 

 of the canal before we could get the wagon out. This detained us 

 so long that we were forced to encamp, as it was not in our power 

 to reach the Puerco that night. 



This evening we saw a very large flock of sheep and goats. The 

 pastores said that there were 4,000 in the flock. At night, the 

 herdsman built a large fire, and, seizing some of the lighted brands 

 ran around the flock; the sheep frightened, all turned their heads 

 towards the centre, in the direction of the fire, and are not after 

 such a scare, likely to stray away during the night. 



October 16. — We left "Atrisco," and struck boldly off towards 

 the west, intending to reach the " Rio Puerco," hoping the next 

 day to reach " Cibolletta," where I expected to meet Colonel 

 Jackson, and obtain an escort to protect us in the survey west of 

 the Rio del Norte. 



At Alberquerque we were cautioned by the people against the 

 dangers we would run before reaching Cibolletta, as the war trail 

 of the Narajoes runs through the valley of the Puerco; and the 

 Mexicans advised us to travel with great circumspection, and r.ot 

 to make any fires at night. 



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