I 



476 Ex. Boc. J>fo. 41. 



numbed with the cold, but a cheerful fire soon restbred the genial 

 circulation of the blood. 



We soon started, an*d, before proceeding far, overtook the 

 wagons; they had not been able' to reach the dividing ridge, on ac- 

 count of the exhausted state of the oxen. As this ridge was but 5 

 miles from the "Puerco," we soon attained it, and once more 

 caught sight of the Rio del Norte, and the grand chain of moun- 

 tains on the farther side of the river. Far away to the south, we 

 saw this magnificent stream winding along, its apparent continuity 

 broken by its meanders and its islands, so that it looked like a 

 chain of silver lakes. ^ 



On the ridge, we collected enough wood to last a couple of days, 

 for no wood is to be obtained within less than 9 or 10 miles of 

 Albuquerque, where we should stay a couple of days, as it was ab- 

 solutely necessary that our mules should have some rest. We had 

 travelled at the average rate of 15 miles a day; thrice we had been 

 without a drop of water after a long day's journey, as at Moquino, 

 at Rito, and at the Rio Puerco. Although some of the road was 

 €xcellent, such as from Cibolleta to Laguna, yet, for the greater 

 portion of our route, we had travelled through deep sands, without 

 a road; through rude wilds, without any guide. 



As we entered the valley of the Rio del Norte, we met Major 



Edmonson, with his command, on their way for the Navajoe 



country. Most all of his teams had broken down, and he was 



obliged to stop at the "Rancho de Atrisco," in order to recruit 

 them. • 



_ We heard, to-day, some rumors of General Taylor's battle at 

 Monterey.- These rumors came up by the way of Chihuahua. They 



state the loss of the Ampriran-? nt ^0C\ -txrhU^ t^of ^C +U^ 



Me 



was 1,200, As the report came through Mexicans, we judged the 

 result must be even more favorable to our arms than these rumor* 

 represented. 



October 26. — This morning we received notices of an incursion 

 of the Navajoes, a few miles below us. The pastores left their 

 flocks and fled, wMle a large body of Indians, rushing down from 

 the mountains, where they had secreted themselves during the 

 mght, devastated the whole valley, killing all the human kind 

 ■^ey met, and sweeping off the flocks and herds of the Mexicans. 

 -No less than 5,000 sheep were carried off within 20 miles of the 

 great city of Albuquerque. 



In the afternoon, we went to pay our respects to the padre; he 

 received us most kindly, although seated at the dinner table. He 

 insisted upon our entering, and then introduced us to his friends as 

 the mathematicians and astronomers. I am under great obliga- 

 tions to him for changing some gold for me. Mexicans in general 



W^*^'^^ to receive anything but "plata blanca." 



We hearS this evening that the American traders were cut 'off 

 from all intercourse with Santa Fe, by a body of Mexicans who 

 had come up from "El Passo." Captain Burgwin and Captain 

 ^trrier marched down this morning, in order to assist the traders. 



October 27.— We did not get off this morning until 10 o'clock. 



