AND ITS VICINITY. 495 
We had no sooner arrived, than the character of our 
party was known throughout the city ; and many appli- 
cants appeared in quest of employment, most of them 
persons who wanted to get ‘to their homes. Among 
these were several Americans from Texas, who had 
come here with merchant trains, and been discharged 
They earnestly begged for situations, or to be permit- 
ted to accompany the train for the protection it would 
afford them. I selected such men asI required, among 
them an excellent blacksmith, whom | wanted exceed- 
ingly, and could not procure at El Paso. 
The American consul, Bennet Riddells, Esq., called 
the morning after our arrival. This gentleman has 
long resided in this city, and is married to a Mexican | 
ady. Having letters of introduction to a number of 
the principal citizens of the place, Mr. Riddells accom- 
. panied mein delivering them. Among the gentlemen 
on whom I called, were Sefiores Chaves, Zuloaga, and 
Jaques, Captain Bustamente, and Dr. Dubois, the last 
a French physician of high scientific attainments, and 
long resident in Chihuahua. Several of the American 
residents called on me during the day, among them 
r. Lewis Flotte, of Barranca Colorada, the gentle- 
man whose silver mine and smelting works I visited 
on my way from Correlitos to El Paso. 
I heard from Mr. Flotte, a reiteration of what I had 
been told at Correlitos, and at the mine, of his perse- 
cutions ; in consequence of which, he had been driven 
to the extremity of selling his mine as well as his 
estate at Barranca, at a great sacrifice. He h 
endeavored in vain to obtain protection of the State 
authorities, The statement of Mr. Flotte was corrobo- 
