494 Ex. Doc. No. 41. . ^ 



stalking about their margins; but they will not allow any one; with 



a gun in hand, to approach. 



We noticed several vineyards near us; the vines had been 

 trimmed off very short, and were surrounded by mounds of earthy 

 between 2 and 2| feet high, to protect them from the frosts 



of Vklnler- 



JVovemher 7. — Hearing that some Americans were encamped near 

 us, we sent a messenger to them, in order to inquire if they had 

 heard any news from Chihuahua'. We learn;. ' from Mr. R. Gentry 

 the rumor that General Wool had entered Chihuahua; but no posi- 

 tive inforuiaiion had as yet been received. » 



Leaving Casa Colorada, we continued our w-^y down the Rio del 

 Korte, Having proceeded four miles, wo ciuc^.^^td the mouth of the 

 stream that rises near Abo, Qme mile more brought us opposite to 

 the> town of '^SavlnaL'' We also passed a cluster of *^ rancherias;'' 

 one set seven miles (Irbm one point of departure, and in sufficient 

 number to be dignified by the name of " Rancho de Mitr?i.'' 



After marching 12 miles we encamped on a salt plain, by the 

 side of the river, close by some cotton wood trees. Here we no- 

 ticed some^pools of beautifully ftlear water, and, on stooping dowi} 

 to taste of the inviting element, we found it perfectly saturated 

 with salt- The plain around us was covered v;ith a white efilores-^ 

 cence that one could scrape off with great ease, and, in a little 

 time, obtain an abundance of salt. 



JVovijnher 8. — Last night the wind blew so strong as to endanger 

 the stabiliiy of our tent. Streams of rain were driven against the 

 cloth walls of our frail shelter by the strong northwest blast; for 

 the wind had changed diametrically opposite to its course when ^ve 

 iirst encamped. . . 



This morning the bad weather yet continued. A cold damp mist 

 is incessantly descending. At length we saw gleams of sunshine 

 now and then illumine the distant hills, and we started. About 12 

 o'clock the wind changed to the southeast, the mist ceased falling? 

 and cleared awav, but the blast blew chill, and we were fain to 

 wrap ourselves closely in our " tilmas.'^ After marching four mil^^ 

 W'e arrived opposite to the mouth of the Rio Puerco, and three mile^ 

 more brought us to the town of ^' La Joya de Cibolleta.'' I ^^■ 

 struck with this name when I first heard it, for it is not Cebol!6ta; 

 but one finds in the name a trace of the ancient kingdom of Cibola- 

 This place is " the jewel of Cibola." 





^/ 



^Ve were much amused wiih the laconic replies of some persons 

 that we met upon the road — whence do you comet '^ De abaxo,'^ 

 (from below.) Where are you going? '^Arriba," (above.) ^Vbat 

 Bews have you! '' Nada,'' (nothing.) Men who can give such 

 non-committal answers certainly possess considerable finesse- 

 Ttiere is much more wit in these replies than m the stereotyped 

 joke of ^^comprendo pero no quiero," that is every where echoed 

 through New Klexico. Alas the degeneracy of the times. O tem- 

 oral O mores! It would make Cervantes weep, and, in despiii"'^ 

 urn up his works. ^ 



At Joya we purchased some corn. for cur mules at the rate of f^ 



