
          [In pencil: [1868?]]

Dr. John Torrey

My dear Sir:

I have made some memoranda, which
I will be glad you explain, so that I may perfect some
notes to a translation of that Cobeça de Vaca note in 1537.

I enclose a note from a work that may have
some bearing by Capn. Mayne Reid___1863

again truly
B Smith

[line drawn across sheet]
This occurs somewhere on the river Bravo del
Norte, about the junction with the Pecos, or say
near Presidio del Norte: "The Indians said the
"way was along up that river towrds the N. for otherwise
"in a journey of 17 days we should not find any
"thing to eat, except a fruit they call Chacan, which
"is ground between stones, & even then it could [crossed out: not]
"with difficulty be eaten for its dryness & pungency"
What can this be?

Here the Spainiards found Calabaças (pumpkins)and also gourds. They were then several
hundred miles from the nearest Spainish explorations.

Is it certain that the pumpkin was introduced
by the European?
        