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to the north of this butte, and the point of junction was below. 
What freak of nature united their efforts in forcing the butte, is 
difficult to say. During freshets, it is probable the rivers now dis- 
charge their surplus waters through these old channels. Francisco 
informs me that the Colorado, seven days’ travel up from the bitte, 
continues pretty much as we saw it. Fores, 
' There a caiion is reached impassable for horses or canoes. ‘The 
country between is settled by the Coyotaros, or wolf-eaters, cochin- 
eans, (dirty. fellows,) Los Tontears, or fools, and the Garroteros, or 
club Indians. These cultivate melons, beans, and maize. | 
‘On our return we met a Mexican, well mounted and muffled in 
his blanket. Iasked him where he was going; he said, to hunt 
horses. As he passed, I observed in each of his holsters the neck 
of a bottle, and on his croup a fresh made sack, with other eviden- 
ces of a preparation for a journey. Much against’ his taste, I in- 
vited him to follow me to camp; several times he begged me to let 
_ him go for a moment, that he would soon réturn. His anxiety to. 
_ be released increased my determination not to comply with his re- 
quest. I took him to General Kearny and explained to him the 
Suspicious. circumstances under which I had taken him, and that 
his capture would prove of some importance. He was immediately 
_ Searched, and in his wallet was found the mail from California, 
which was of course opened. 
Among the letters was one addressed to General Jose Castro, at 
_ Alta, one to Antonio Castro, and others to men of note in Sonora. 
_ All suspected of relating to public affairs were read, and we ascer- 
_ tained from theritthat a counter revolution had taken place in Cal- 
- ifornia, that the Americans were expelled from Santa Barbara, 
_ Puebla de-los Angeles, and other places, and that Robideaux, the 
_ brother of our interpreter, who had been appointed alcalde by the 
_ Americans, was a prisoner in jail. They all spoke exultingly of 
having thrown off “the detestable Anglo-Yankee yoke,” and con- 
| gratulated themselves that the tri-color once more floated in Cali- 
fornia. : ' : 
i Captain Flores was named as the general and governor,pro tem., 
and the enthusiasm of the people described as overflowing in the 
cause of emancipation from the Yankee yoke. One letter gave a 
minute and detailed account of a victory stated to have been ob- 
- tained over the Americans. It stated that 450 men landed at San 
_ Pedro, and were met, defeated, and driven back to the fort at San 
Pedro. This last was attributed by us to Mexican braggadocio, as 
it is usual with them to represent their defeats as victories; but 
that there sf a disturbance of a sSerious'‘kind in the province, we 
could not doubt, from the uniformity of the accounts on that head. 
We also learned that the horses captured were in part for General 
Castro. i 2 to legitimize our capture, and 
at his men. : 
but being dated so far. 
loubt as to the real state | 
is played their parts so 
xtract the truth from thém. 
ea oy 
‘ 
= 
in California, and the 
it was not in our powe: 
