ALAMO MUCHO. 119 
who but a short time previous had been to that place, 
and knew many of the Mormons, set off on his errand. 
May 30th. Kemained in camp. Got my wagon in, 
and made a new wooden axle-tree. Found the iron 
portion much bent and very weak. Lashed the two 
strongly together with rawhide. 
Santa Isabel is an Indian village, and was once a 
place of some note, when the missionary establishments 
were in the ascendancy. A roofless church and a few 
miserable huts, are now all thatremain. Nevertheless, 
the inhabitants cultivate the soil, and by means of irri- 
gation, which they well understand, raise wheat, maize, 
pumpkins, and beans. The vine succeeds very well 
here, and was formerly cultivated to a considerable ex- 
tent. The land near is very fertile, which had induced 
some Americans to select itfor their homes. The long 
neglected fields were being turned up, which gave 
the valley a pleasant appearance. Several of the In- 
dians, who belong to the Diegeno tribe, visited our 
camp to-day. They were dressed in their holiday 
clothes, such as red and white shirts; while the chief 
Tomaso, who seemed an intelligent man, wore an old 
coat trimmed with silver lace, which had once belonged 
to some Mexican officer. 
May 31st. Remained in camp. In the afternoon 
Mr. Leroux returned, accompanied by a wagon, which 
was driven by its owner, a Mormon, named Smithson. 
After paying him, I invited him to remain with us over 
night, as he had hada fatiguing day’s journey. We 
were much amused during the evening in listening to 
the history of our Mormon friend, who also enlightened 
us with a lecture on the peculiar doctrines of his sect. 
