TO THE RIO FLORIDO. 449 
had experience as a military officer. The villagers, 
who knew the haunts of the Indians, said they were 
then near our camp, and although we did not see them 
they had their spies watching our movements. Aman 
was now placed by the leading mules of each team in 
addition to the teamster, to keep them in place; as 
our safety depended on the preservation of our ani- 
mals. Five of the soldiers were also placed with the 
wagons, and five about fifty yards in advance of the 
train. The remainder of the party were equally di- 
vided between the front and rear. 
Our course for the first four miles lay through a thick 
chapporal, where an enemy might easily lie in ambush 
and surprise a party. It was, therefore, with some 
anxiety that we passed this place. On our left, for a 
mile or more, were ruins of decayed buildings; which 
led me to believe that the town must have been much 
larger in former times. Several large acequias, now 
destitute of water, crossed our road, another evidence 
that more of the valley had once been cultivated. 
Passed some isolated mountains on our left, where 
there are some silver mines, the ore from which is 
taken to Saucillo to be smelted; but, whether owing 
to the poorness of the ore, or defective methods of 
Separating the metal from it, they barely pay the ex- 
pense of working. There are other mines in the hills 
to the right which yield more, and are considered pro- 
fitable. These also belong to Saucillo, or rather to 
the gambucinos of that place. 
About fifteen miles from Saucillo we reached by a 
gradual ascent the summit of a plateau, when a broad 
€xpanse of plain again opened before us. From here 
VOL, I1—t 
