Ex. Doc. No. 41. '493 



^own, and invoked the soul that had once animated these bones 

 with most humble entreaty and most powerful arguments and 

 promist's. He told the spirit, that as it had always been here, it 

 must know where the treasure was deposited, which if left con^ 

 cealed would do no one any benefit; but if it would inform him, 

 that he vowed by all most holy, to have these bones interred ia 

 sacred ground, and would purchase masses without -number^ but it 

 was all in vain. 

 f- We had a fine road, and travelled on at the rate of three miles an 

 hour. For the first five miles, we followed the stream on which 

 Abo is situated; as we proceeded, it became perfectly dry. Its 

 course is nearly due west to the Rio del Norte. As it goes through 

 a narrow canon, we were obliged to follow the road, which led us 

 through a crooked mountain gorge, whence we emerged into the 

 great valley of the Del Norte- 



We saw a ptant that bears some resemblance to the yucca, and is 

 called '^palmello angosta;'^ also, a ^'mahonia," the leaves of which 

 are very much like the holly; this the Mexicans call ^^palomereo J' 

 As we descended into the valley, we found a great and very per- 

 ceptible change of temperature. The sun now seemed as if his in- 

 fluence was gaining the ascendancy over that of the snow-capped 

 mountains; and when we reached the fool of the sierra, we found 

 some beautiful plants still in full bloom. Continuing our journey, 

 we, ere long, saw a large band of antelope dash across the road. 

 This circumstance gave us hope of soon finding water; and,^n a few 

 moments more, w^e perceived a herd of cattle grazing near the road. 

 When we reached them, we found several little ponds of water, and 

 encamped alongside of them; having made a journey of 20 miles. 

 We had scarce conipleted our arrangements, when a dark cloud 

 ■came sweeping along the sierra, pouring down rain and harl; but it 

 passed over us rapidly. 



J^ovemher 6. — Our road now led across a level plain, which con- 

 sisted of a mixture of small gravel .and sand. Although a good 

 road at any time, still the shower of yesterday had rendered it more 

 <;ornpact, and we made a rapid march, completing a journey of 18 

 |Diles by noon; when we encamped at ^•Casa Colorado,'' a little 

 town on the banks of the Rio del Norte, near a large acqueia that 

 passed between the tow^n and the river. We here heard that Gen- 

 eral Wool had taken Chihuahua without any opposition, but we 

 knew the Mexicans too well to place confidence in this report, and 

 <^ould only hope that it was true, without permitting the rumor to 

 4ave any influence on our plan of operations. 



In the afternoon, we went to pay our respects to the alcalde, and 

 to ask some questions with regard to the surrounding country; but 

 found our visit very unprofitable. He had some very old pic- 

 tures, in large, oval frames, that had once been beautifully gilded. 

 We asked him questions with regard to them, but all his answers 



^ere prefixed with '^quizas," (perhaps ) , r • 



North of the town there are several large Ronds; their surfaces 

 Were covered with ducks and geese, and long-legged cranes wcre 



