TO LA MAGDALENA. 
411 
at Santa Cruz but flour, I determined to go to Magda- 
lena, a town seventy -five miles further south, where I 
was told I could find mules, and such articles of pro- 
visions as I required. The annual fair of San Fran- 
cisco was to take place in a few days ; and there, it was 
believed, would be a supply of every thing, particu- 
larly mules, of which I was most in need. I believed 
I could get back in ten days, and immediately after 
join the parties on the Gila. 
When we came to get the mules in, we found that 
one was missing. I suspected that some of our dishonest 
friends had concealed it until after we should leave, 
and requested Captain Barragan to secure it, if it should 
be seen. 
My journey to Magdalena was taken advantage of 
by many of the people of Santa Cruz, who wished to 
go to the fair ; so that when my party was ready to 
move, I found it increased by fifteen men and two 
women, all mounted on horses, or mules, like ourselves, 
making altogether a cavalcade of thirty-one persons, 
besides our pack-mules. The Mexicans were all clad 
in their holiday dresses, and presented quite a pictu- 
resque appearance. The men wore chiefly roundabout 
jackets, with pantaloons open at the sides, showing 
their large white cotton drawers beneath. Some of 
their pantaloons were lined with pink or sky-blue ; and 
in every case they were decorated with a row of bell- 
buttons, or clasps, extending from the hip to the ankle. 
Suspenders they never wear, a red silk sash being 
generally used to keep the pantaloons in their place. 
Every man also carries with him a serape^ or blanket, 
which in the cool of the morning and evening is thrown 
