"FT ST NT IS NER TON TRE TT) 
LA CUESTA.—CANON BLANCO.—LA LAGUNA. 43 
at the foot of the opposite cliff, and the tortuous river, with a border of trees, wound through 
rich meadows and fields of ripe corn. A sketch was taken by the artist, while some of us 
descended, sliding down on foot, at every turn catching at the rocks and bushes for support. 
The barometer escaped many gleich, and was read at the bottom, indicating, as stated, five 
hundred feet descent. As we entered the valley a loud clamor was heard from the nearest 
rancheros, and we found that the villagers had taken us for a band of Comanches; for this 
solitary spot is seldom disturbed from without except by those unwelcome visitors. When their 
apprehensions were quieted, and they found us to be Americans, they displayed a singular mix- 
ture of rudeness and civility, for they saw we were few in number and unarmed. They insisted 
upon our accompanying them to a ball in the village, but at the same time were heard 
talking to each other of the “Gringos, and joking-regarding the outrages that had lately 
been committed | by their friends upon Aiericans in Santa Fé. At length they carried their 
impertinence to such a pitch. that a demonstration was.made by our party which showed the 
ee Y: that we uri Ma to chastise any.further displays of it. They immediately apolo- 
gized, and afterwards treated u$ with respect. 
avir z bargaii | r » (fodder for 1 ules.) We separated; some to examine the neighbor- 
"D 
E dmire the fine fields irrigated by acequias, o to clamber among the rocks for 
of miner | flowers," Many large cr "were noticed erected in the fields, 
g the “Massacresy At one of the ranchos was witnessed the 
piece ng syrup P Zë e SS VC? 
log six feet long e plaeed on ët RS 16 broken stalks. Below was a grooved plank 
to lead the expressed fluid.to a trough. Upon the stalks was placed a circular block of wood, 
and above:a stick, upon which rested the trunk of a large pine tree, forming a lever for the 
press. The end, of the tree nearest the tubgvas confined to a post by a pivot, and upon the 
other end were mounted the men and boys of the neighborhood, whose weight served as a living 
force to crush t le stalks and separate the sap, which was afterwards boiled to the consistency 
of molasses. ` 
September 30. _ The Sale having had plenty to eat during the night, we were enabled to 
leave camp at daybreak. Many Mexicans visited us even at that early hour, and were remark- 
mmunicative, not. “having fo otten the lesson we gave them. La Cuesta lies 
nil -north of the main road, which w e follow ed | yesterday. This country having 
been so well delineated by Simpsonand A rt, it seemed unnecessary to divide the astronomi- 
cal instruments. We therefore left them with the train, trusting to the odometer, compass, 
and barometer to fix our points. From La , Cuesta to Cañon Blanco the country is moderately 
level, and rather sparsely covered with small cedars and pines. camp fires of the main 
party were found at the entrance to the cañon, where small pools d water had been discovered. 
The train had passed on before our arrival ; reg through the gorge, and thence to La 
Laguna,where we overtook it ap reni 
This little lake is in a slight de epressi R^ xem near the summit dividing the waters 
of the Ric Grande from.the Pecos. It a ffords cient water for trains, and for the flocks and 
razin Sai in the Zë In very dry st ea it has been known to fail for two months. 
j ucted tank. hia ` ive a sufficient quantity of rain to render 
er 
gn À us. The thermometer went i ina to 45? 
ipproac 
ads a strong 
ain i with hail." The poor ge loosed from 
Fahrenheit, ent, Ze ter] 
at 
ne: 
; 
" 
