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Ex. Doc. No. 41. 485 



ffierry talk, and a smoke; for men and women are always provided 

 irith the cornhusk, or shuck, and tobacco to make their cigarritos, 



JSTovember 3. — Having purchased some corn at Tagique, with 

 "which we commenced feeding our mules, they seem to be less in- 

 clined to wander away, and no time is now lost in catching them* 

 We were, therefore, off betimes in the morning, although we again 

 had but a short march, for the distance from ^^Torreon" to 

 *'Manzano" does not exceed 8 miles. 



On the road side, we noticed a great deal of the same species of 

 holly that we had seen in the ^'caiion infierno." We also saw the 

 "pifion," and the varieties of cedar; one of which our Spanish 

 guide called '^cedro,'' and' the other *'savino." 



To the east, and about 17 miles distant, there are several small: 

 lakes, into which the streams in this vicinity empty their tribute^ 

 These lakes have no outlet, being situated in the bottom of a basiu^ 

 25 miles in width, and 50 miles in length. 



We caught sight of ^^Manzano" when but midway between it 

 and our morning's camp. It is one of the largest towns that we 

 have met with on the west side of the river. Many of the houses 

 have their fronts neatly whitewashed, antl the church has its whole 

 facade whitewashed with a preparation of calcined selenite. This- 

 mineral is often used as a substitute for glass in window sashes. 



When we first neared the town, several of the inhabitants came 

 out to meet us with guns in their hands. The people stili have a 



lingering inclination for the old governinent, and although none of 



their institutions have been changed, yet it will be some time be- 

 fore they will regard the entrance of Americans otherwise than as 

 an intrusion. 



^ We encamped close to an ^^acequia" that feeds the mills of 

 the town, after passing through the most central streets of the 

 place. 



Near our camp there was a large grove of apple trees; and oa 

 the east side of the town, near the mountains, a second grove. 

 The trees are planted very close together. These groves give the 

 name to the town of ^'Manzano." 



In the afternoon, we visited the town and its environs. On the 

 side towards the mountains, there is a large dam, constructed of 

 crib-work, 12 feet wide, and 8 feet high, and 100 feet long, formed 

 of rough logs, and the interior is filled up with stones and earth, 

 Ju>t now the lake is nearly dried up, and the little mills that it» 

 waters used to turn have not sufficient power to grind the miller's 

 corn. These mills, like ev^erything else in New Mexico, are of 

 Tery primitive style. There is a vertical axis, on the lower end of 

 which is the water wheel; the other end passes through the lower 

 burr, and is firmly connected with the upper stone, which, as the 



axis turns, revolves upoa the lower stone- Above all this, hangs 

 a large hopper of ox-hide, kept open at the top by a square frame^ 

 and harrowed olF towards the bottom, so as to present the forifi of 

 an inverted cone- In the extremity of the bag is a small opening, 

 and this is fastened Po a little through. One end of this trough 

 being supported by its connexion with the hopper, the other emij 

 ©f mouth,* is sustained by a horizontal strip of wood, of which ai^ 



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