- a 
43 | 2 gees 
fandango, which is the name given to all collections of people 
where there is music and dancing. 
A cotillion was attempted in honor of the Americans present, but 
this cold and formal dance soon gave way to the more joyous” 
dances of the country, the Coona, the Bolero, and the Italiana. 
Every variety of figure was introduced, but the waltz was the basis 
of all, except the Bolero, which, as danced here, resembles our 
negro jig. 
At the dance we found a very plain, but very intelligent woman, 
the sister of Armijo, who said he would return as soon ashe settled 
his affairs in Chihuahua. 
September 11.—Returned to Santa Fé. 
September 15.—Sent Lieutenant Warner, with a party consisting 
of Lieutenant Peck and three men, to determine the latitude of Taos 
and the topography of the road. 
. From the 15th to 25th September I was busily engaged in fitting 
out for California. . 
Lieutenant Abert, who was left dangerously ill at Bent’s Fort, - 
. had not arrived on the 25th, but accounts reached me that he was. 
convalescent, and on his way to Santa Fé, where he might shortly 
be expected. Lieutenant Peck was also an inyalid, and neither 
being able to accompany us to California, I left, by the general’s 
direction, the subjoined order for them to make a map of New 
Mexico, based upon the astronomical points and measurements de- 
tersanined by myself, and to furnish from the best statistical sources, 
an account of the population and resources, military and civil, of 
the province. 
, : Sanra Fe, September 14, 1846.” 
4 Sin: I'am charged by the general commanding to inform you 
that you will remain for the present in the territory of New Mexico, _ 
and should your health, or that of Lieutenant Peck, be sufficiently 4 
restored to return to duty, that you will continue the survey of 
this territory commen¢ed by myself, and follow it to completion, — 
provided it does not interfere with other military duties which may — 
be required of you by the officer left in command of the territory. — 
ith the limited number of instruments that can be placed in 
your hands, it is not expected that you will conduct the survey on 
strict geodetic principles, yet it is believed that sufficient precision — 
can be attained to answer all the requirements of the military and 
civil service. io 4 
he country from Taos to Fra Cristobal contains nearly all the 
ground that is under cultivation, and nearly all that is worth culti-— 
vating; and for this whole distance it is open and bounded by high ~ 
and conspicuous peaks, affording great facilities for conducting — 
your operations. ae 
- Thave established the astronomical positions of six points in this 
territory, viz: camp 42, at Vegas; camp 43, Vernal springs, Santa — 
.. Fé; camp 55, 11 miles south of the church of San Felippe; camp 
e 
i 
