454. CHIHUAHUA 
cleanly-looking than usual, and exhibited less of the 
Indian physiognomy and complexion. Having more 
wagon tires to set, and some blacksmith’s work to do, 
we took occasion to look about the place, and found 
the people polite and desirous to serve us. Corn, barley, 
vegetables, eggs, and poultry, were brought to our camp 
for sale, for the first time since we entered the country. 
South of the town is a small monument built of 
adobe to the height of about twenty-five feet, in honor 
of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose full length portrait, 
or effigy, stuck into a frame, is inserted in a niche at 
the top of the monument. The picture is about two 
feet in length, and appeared to be an ordinary colored 
lithograph. ‘The monument is an unshapely affair; 
and seemed to be fashioned in literal obedience to the 
command, not to make to oneself “‘the likeness of any 
thing in the heavens above, or in the earth beneath, or 
in the waters under the earth.” It is but fair to add, 
that I was told the monument was built by a priest, 
who died before he completed his plans. 
The river Florido has here a bottom of three or 
four miles in width; most of it is cultivated, and a 
considerable portion in cotton, which thrives well here. 
In fact, there is more land here under cultivation than 
at any place I had seen in the country, not excepting 
the valley of the Rio Grande. As an evidence of its 
secluded position, I was told that there were but two 
foreigners in it, a Spaniard and a Frenchman, both of 
whom honored us with visits. 
November 9th. In consequence of the deficiency of 
tools, we made slow progress in repairing our wagons. 
We had heard at Chihuahua of the existence of large 
