AND VISIT TO CASAS GRANDES. 349 
superior cultivation, would be thought very slovenly 
tillage in the United States. 
I had letters of introduction to two gentlemen 
living here, which I sent on in advance by my Mexi- 
can servant, that he might find the persons to whom 
they were addressed, and then return and meet me. 
Unfortunately, both the gentlemen were absent. The 
man, however, had shown the letters to another gentle- 
man, who had read them, and who requested that we 
should stop at his house. 
We accordingly drove up to a réspectable looking 
adobe house, where we were met by well-dressed per- 
sons, and received with much politeness. Being con- 
ducted into the house, we were scarcely seated before 
the room was pretty well filled with visitors, to see who 
the strangers were. I made myself and companion 
known, as well as the object of our visit; viz., to see 
the ruins near by, or as they called them the ‘‘ Casas de 
Montezuma.” Our host soon began to make prepara- 
tions for dinner; but as it was then five o'clock, and 
but little time remained before dark, I requested him 
to defer the meal until evening, that we might make 
the most of our time in examining the ruins while day- 
light lasted. 
This being arranged, Dr. Webb and myself set off 
for the ruins, accompanied by our host and three or 
four others. Being but half a mile from the village, 
they were soon reached, when, after a hasty walk among 
them, I seated myself on a small knoll, or mound, and 
occupied myself while there remained any light in 
making a sketch. The Doctor, in the mean time, was 
engaged in searching among them for relics. We re- 
