PLAZA LARGA.—ARROYO DE PAJARITO. 
39 
the valley of the stream where we are encamped. The inference seems to he that year hy year 
the wild Indians, like the buffalo, range over less space, and are gradually dwindling away. 
Dr. Bigelow, this morning, rode over to the bluff, and ascended the escarped slope to the 
mesa of the Staked Plain, and was well repaid for his trouble. It was disintegrated and worn 
away into well defined terraces, reaching from the prairie valley to the summit; giving foothold 
and nourishment to a forest of small cedars and pinons. His herbarium was literally crammed 
with plants and flowers, many of unknown species. The rock was, as previously described, 
200 feet lias, overlaid by the same thickness of cretaceous formation, with sandstone and lime¬ 
stone containing fossil shells. 
Plaza Larga is famous in New Mexico for beautiful scenery, fertile soil, and charming climate. 
It extends from among the Tucumcari hills apparently to the Canadian; and, should this route 
be selected for a railway, offers every facility for a large settlement. Indeed, in a few years it 
may become the centre of a flourishing State. The sun has once more set in a clear and tran¬ 
quil sky, an agreeable contrast to so many days of harassing storm and wind. There is a pros¬ 
pect for a good set of astronomical observations. 
September 22 —Camp 50.—A short distance from camp we encountered other parties of 
Mexicans and Indians, one numbering twenty-two persons, en route for the Comanche country. 
They report trouble at La Mesilla. General Trias is said to be there with troops, and Santa 
Anna expected with 5,000 men. The latter part is doubtless fiction; but the possibility of 
a collision with Mexico creates excitement among our party, and a desire to get nearer to 
the scene of action. 
We continued up the valley of Tucumcari, which soon became a ravine, bounded on either 
side by the variegated bluffs of the Llano. Red marl, yellow and white sandstone, with cliffs 
of white limestone, contrast with the dark foliage of cedars occurring upon the slopes and filling 
every chasm. Occasionally, along the valley, we passed a rocky hill or mound which denudation 
had not yet removed. One isolated hill, detached from the Llano, stood nearly in our path, and, 
from its peculiar shape, was named the Pyramid. One side was nearly perpendicular, and all 
the strata of the Staked Plain were laid bare. Dr. Bigelow, Mr. Marcou, Mr. Sherburne, and 
others, prepared to mount to its summit while the train moved on. Following the valley, which 
is at first contracted by salient angles of the hills to a mile in width, and then opens to a junc¬ 
tion with another stream, an almost imperceptible ascent led to Laguna Colorada, about nine¬ 
teen miles distant from, and 350 feet higher than, the last camp. The Laguna is a pond of 
muddy water, which appears to be the head of a stream flowing in a northerly course towards 
the Canadian. 
Those who ascended the Pyramid have arrived in camp delighted with their trip. The 
height by barometer above the valley was 500 feet. It appeared to tower slightly above the 
unbroken Llano towards the south. Mr. Marcou discovered two species of fossil oyster-shells, 
one remarkably long, and probably new. A sketch was made, to show the stratification. The 
Doctor was less fortunate in making collections there, but at camp he found a new opuntia. 
The head of a buck antelope was added to our naturalist’s collection. The wind is still from 
the southwest, and has interfered to-night with our astronomical observations. 
September 23 —Camp 51.—Set out at 7^ a. m.; the morning calm and beautiful. The road 
ran along the southern base of a red sandstone bluff, worn into curious shapes resembling mon¬ 
uments, vases, and caves. This rock might easily be quarried, and would answer for building 
material. The sandstone and limestone of the Llano, however, would be harder and more dura¬ 
ble. A short distance above appeared a forest of scrub cedars. We crossed the spur of a hill, 
which, by a detour to the right, might have been avoided, and entered a prairie interspersed 
with dwarfed cedars, cacti, yuccas, and mezquites. From the spur was a fine view westward, 
over mesa hills, to a blue sierra, said to belong to the Rocky mountains. Descending the hill, 
a rough and rocky road brought us to Arroyo de Pajarito. Here, eight miles from the last 
camp, was a large basin, nearly enclosed by hills, with good soil, water, grass, and tall reeds, 
