TO SALTILLO. 493 
and pursue the Indians whenever found on his domain. 
Mules are extremely plentiful here, and are valued at 
twenty dollars a head on an average. I presume Don 
Jacobo estimates his mules in his claim on the United 
States at from fifty to sixty dollarsa head. This is about 
the advance that Americans put upon their property, 
of whatever nature, when the government is to pay 
for it; and we can hardly expect the Mexicans to be 
more moderate than our own citizens. 
One of our wagons broke down to-day and so 
injured the axle-tree that it would not retain its wheel. 
It was, therefore, taken off and the axle sustained by a 
long pole. 
Our road ascended gradually until we reached an 
elevated plain with high mountains around us. Passed 
several ranchos, with large fields of maize. These 
fields were in the depressions of the plain, and 
derived sustenance from the drainage of the moun- 
tains. The corn looked as well as when artificially 
irrigated. Among the villages passed was one ex- 
clusively of Peons. It consisted of a cluster of ex- 
tremely rude dwellings or huts around a square, many 
of which were built entirely of the yucca tree. Its 
trunk set upright formed the walls and doors, while its 
leaves, placed on poles, after the manner of thatching, 
made the roof. Want and wretchedness were stamped 
upon these rude hovels, as well as on the poor cre- 
tures who occupied them. 
We tried to buy corn-stalks here, but they had 
none for sale, which obliged us to move on. When 
opposite San Juan, a cluster of miserable huts a quar- 
ter of a mile from the road, [ sent to see if fodder 
