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Ex. Doc. No. 41. 495 



the '^ fanega." Continiaing on to Joyeta, which is six miles further, 

 vfe encamped under a large grove of cotton wood trees in the vi- 

 cinity of an acequia. ^ • 



The course of the river to-day was tortuous; high sand bnnks 



prizing grounds for their cfattle. 

 of the mezquit " prosopis g]andu 



closed in on each side, almost obliterating the valley, except at 

 Joya and Joyeta, where there are fields sufficiently broad fir rais- 

 intr corn enough to supply the wants of the people, and to afford 



" * -^--.1- To-day we saw ^reat quantities 



losa," and a curious evergreen 

 plant, belonging to the zygopyllaceae, that gives out n very pun- 

 gent odor, resembling kreosote* It occurs in dense spherical 

 masses, similar to the common box, which, at a little distance, it 

 resembles. Its height is not more than two to thrt-e feet. The 

 leaves are entire, as large as those of the box, and shaped like the 

 tail of the letter Q. It loves a sandy soil, jyid prefers the hill 



sides to the plains. 



JSTovembcr 9. — From Joya we observed quite a clfange in the ap- 

 earance of the country. The river banks are now heavily t^m- 

 ered with cotton wood; the high sand bluffs clffse in to the river, 

 and the climate has become much milder, while tiae plants aroe-nd 

 >how a great change of latitude- Of cacti four varieties have sud- 

 denly burst upon us, and there we found the broad palma^J va- 

 riety growing in magnificent luxuriance. The leaves, if I may so 

 call them, measure 14 inches 'in length and 11 inches in breadth. 

 We also saw a variety with a stem resembling that of a young 

 shoot of the orange tree, one-third of an inch in diameter, with 

 spines two, and three inches long, and these covered with thin semi- 

 transparent sheaths. The '' C. undulata'' covered the hill sides, 

 mingled with the meznuit '^ P. glandulosa." 



As we pursued our way along the river side, we saw many flocks 

 of sheep that the *'pastores" had driven in from the mountairs, for 

 fear of the ^^Navajoes.'' The whole country was in a statt- of 

 alarm, and the road was lined with '^^voluntarlbs^ l^urrying to tke 

 rendezvous. At Sabino we found that many had already assem- 

 bled, armed with muskets and escopettes, with cartridge boxes that 

 were buckled round the waist, full of death-dealing lead and pow- 

 der* *^ 



After passing through the town, we still found the people gather- 

 ing together in little groups, the valley still full cf sheep and goats, 

 so that the hills resounded with their bleating. After marching 11 

 miles we reached Paiida, and passing two miles beyond the iov.n^ 

 we encamped at the foot of a high sandy bluif, which we will have 

 to cross to-morrow. Our mules will then be ready for climbtng 

 the steep and sandy acclivity. " Socorro'^ is on the opposite side 

 of the river, and one mile btdow us. From the hill near wbich we 

 have encamped there is a fine view of Socorro and the rums of 

 "Las Hue tas,'' four miles below, as well as of Limitrr, which is 

 seven miles above. Between us and the above named places roiled 

 the waters of the Rio del Norte, which are ^"e boniered bj^.^rove. 

 Of large cotton wood trees. la the back ground, ^^^^^' ^%^J^^^^^ 

 the wiiward, rise, a range of lofty peaks, some I,OCO feet m 



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