EL PASO. 181 
months had now elapsed since his appointment, and I 
had received no letters to explain the cause of this 
delay. 
The astronomers of the two Commissions having 
determined the position of the initial point on the Rio 
Grande, as before stated, I departed for the place on 
the 19th of April, for the purpose of signing the docu- 
ments necessary to establish that point, and of attend- 
ing to such ceremonies as the importance of the event 
seemed to demand; after which I intended to proceed 
at once to the new head-quarters of the Commission, 
at Santa Rita del Cobre, or the Copper Mines. 
