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Ex. Doc. No 41. ' 507 



as his animals had rested a day or two, preparatory to crossing the 

 terrible "Jornada del Muerto." 



December 15. — This morning, at 9 o'clock, we left Valverde for 

 Santa P^, On the opposite side of the river, at the crossing, we 

 met Colonel Doniphan. He said he had been highly gratified with 

 his march into the country of the Navajoes. From what I could 

 learn, they build in a style similar to the people of Acoma, Santo 

 Domingo, and the other Pueblos of New Mexico. They belong to 

 the great Apache nation, together with the Cyotleros and Mez- 

 caleros, of the southern regions, all of* which tribes are said to 

 speak the Apache language, ^ome of Colonel Doniphan's com- 

 mand visited the people of Zuni, and succeeded in establishing 

 peace between them and the Navajoes. 



Before we had gone more than half the day's journey from 

 Valverde, wd overtook a party of eighteen men, who had left the 

 employment of some of the traders, and were now on their way to 

 the United States. I at once took them in my employment, con- 

 sidering myself most fortunate in thus obtaining a party in com- 

 plete readiness for the intended journey, which would obviate the 

 necessity of delaying in Santa Fe. 



Continuing our route on the west side of the Rio del Norte, we 

 encamped this evening near the little towit of San Antonio, which 

 is fourteen miles north of Valverde. 



Although our mules have had nothing to do for the last four 

 weeks, yet the cold and the insufficient nourishment to be derived 

 from the grama grass had left them in a poor plight. One of 



them gave out to-day-, and the men I left to drive it up, could not 



get it to* camp. 



December 16. — This morning I represented to the men I had en- 

 gaged yesterday, the trials and difficulties that we would most 

 likely encounter, and I insisted particularly that they should pur- 

 chase a new set of mules, as those they then had were poor, and 

 would inevitably die before they could get across the prairies. 



This morning we passed Major Mitchell's command. Although 

 bis men were mounted on mules, still they presented a fine appear- 

 ance, owing to the good discipline and regularity observed on the 

 caarch. They had just passed us, when we heard a rustling of 

 sabres, and looking round, saw the men all on foot, leading their 

 mules. The movement was performed with such perfect unity, 

 that one must necessarily judge them to be well drilled- I recog- 

 nized in the ranks some brave fellows who had heen with us 

 through the country of the Kioways and Camanches in the fall of 

 1^5. At noon we reached Socorro, which is by this route 27 miles 

 north of Valverde. Passing four miles beyond the city, we en- 

 camped on the bank of the river. ,. . , r 



We have now a journey of 136 miles to accomplish before 



reaching Santa Fe, where we will be in nine days. , , ^ , , 



We passed ^o-day a deserted town, which we were told had been 



left on account of the continued depredations of the JNavajoes. 

 This morning I started oflF and walked as far as Limitar, tor i 



tad counselled my men to walk a& much as possible, m order to 



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