TO PARRAS. AN5 
part of our whole route by reason of the Comanches. 
The great pass leading to the Bolson de Mapimi 1s 
here, through which the Indians enter that portion of 
Mexico. The little heaps of stones surmounted by 
crosses, where murders have been committed by the 
Indians, are met with at every mile; and having got 
along safe thus far, I did not feel disposed to risk the 
party and train, if an escort could be had. 
The present population of Cuencamé is three thou- 
sand souls, as stated to me by the Prefect. It is a very 
old place, and the Franciscans formerly had a con- 
vent here. It stands ona small stream, barely suff- 
cient to supply the wants of the people. There is no 
bottom-land near, which gives it a most dreary appear- 
ance. It is strictly a mining town, and has three 
smelting works in operation. We went into them, and 
procured specimens of the ores. 
November 21st. We were detained several hours 
waiting for our escort, so that we did not get off until 
eleven o'clock. Our course was now east over a bad 
road. After gomg about ten miles, we stopped at a 
well called La Noria Cureta, an abandoned cattle 
hacienda, near which was good grass, but no arable 
land. The well is covered with a handsome octagonal 
building, having wheel-work inside for raising the water 
by mule power. In an adjoining building we found 
the leathern buckets, which we rigged with some diffi- 
culty by attaching them to a broad leather band which 
passed over a horizontal wheel, and thence down into 
the well. On one side these buckets went down 
empty, and on the other came up filled. The water 
then fell into a reservoir, whence it was led to the out- 
