470 RIO FLORIDO 
across our path and galloped away at full speed as we 
drew near them. There-were no herdsmen with them; 
and it was a matter of surprise to see such herds ten 
or fifteen miles from any habitation. The best of these 
horses may be purchased for fifty dollars each, and 
ordinary ones for from eighteen to twenty dollars. We 
filled our water kegs at the laguna, and, after making 
altogether about twenty-one miles, encamped in the 
open plain near some mezquit bushes, for the sake of 
the fuel they afforded. Wood had been the most dif 
ficult of all things to procure on our journey from El 
Paso. We gathered it from bushes as we came along ; 
and we often, as was the case this day, were governed 
in fixing our camp by proximity to it. | 
November 17th. Our route to-day lay over and 
among low hills with a stony road, but kept gradually 
descending towards the valley where we expected to 
encamp. Towards noon, herds of cattle and milpas 
(corn-fields) indicated our approach to a settlement ; 
and soon after, we rode into a town that glories in the 
extraordinary name of San Pedro del Gallo (St. Peter 
of the Cock). Miserable and filthy as were many of 
the towns we had visited, this surpassed them all. The 
plaza seemed to be used as a great cattle-pen, and the 
streets as avenues to it. There was a general staring 
at us as we entered the place. Driving through it, we 
encamped on a level piece of ground just beyond, 
where we were soon surrounded by a number of anx- 
ious inquirers. As an evidence of the poverty of the 
place, we could buy neither eggs, fowls, nor vegetables 
—nothing but frijoles, and corn for the animals. 
he town is supplied with water from a natural 
i a ey 
