BOTANICAL EXCURSION.-ANTON CHICO. 
41 
September 25 —Camp 52.—Our cattle becoming foot-sore and weary, to avoid leaving many 
of them behind, we determined not to move camp to-day, but allow them to rest. Dr. Bigelow 
immediately set out upon a botanical excursion. About four miles southwest be struck the 
bend of a river, probably the Gfallinas, flowing in a canon cut almost perpendiculaily through 
the plain to a depth of about 500 feet. Following it down, he found cactaceae and other in¬ 
teresting plants so numerous, that the time was beguiled away, and night came upon him una¬ 
wares. We became alarmed for his safety, kindled signal-fires upon the hill, and discharged 
guns to direct him in the darkness towards camp. Finally a party went out to search, and met 
him on his return weary almost to fainting, with the weight of his herbarium. Numbers of fat 
antelope were killed to-day. 
September 26 —Anton Chico .—Took an early start; watching, as we went along, the varying 
tints of approaching day, so beautiful in this climate. A mile from camp we crossed the sand¬ 
stone bed of the second branch of Hurrah creek, where there was water in pools. Commencing 
the ascent of a prairie ridge, we rose gradually, in three miles, about 400 feet, when we found 
ourselves upon the limestone surface of an extensive plain. For a mile or more the road was 
smooth, and then succeeded rolling prairie, beyond which was a forest of dwarf cedars. Fif¬ 
teen miles of survey brought us to the Rio de Grallinas, a creek with pure running water, but 
with neither wood nor grass upon its banks. Passing over an undulating country, we reached 
the crest of a hill overlooking the Pecos at Anton Chico. An easy descent led to the valley, 
where we found a good crossing of the river, and proceeded to town. After leaving Rio de Gal- 
linas, several pools of water appeared by the roadside, and one spring, “a las chupainas,” 
(sheep spring); which waters a fertile basin five miles back, where the train was left to encamp 
to-night. Large flocks of sheep and many horses were grazing there as we passed by. 
Anton Chico contains about five hundred inhabitants. The principal part of the town stands 
upon the west bank of the river, upon the first rise of ground above the irrigated fields. The 
valley is well cultivated and productive. Behind the town rise bluffs of high table-lands. The 
houses, as is usual in New Mexico, are built of adobes,* and are singularly festooned in front 
by strings of red peppers—the much prized “ chili Colorado”—intended less for ornament than 
use. Our entrance was greeted by wolfish-looking dogs—which, by-the-by, are celebrated for 
sagacity in guarding sheep—and a large number of children ; the latter dressed in loose cotton 
robes, generally torn from the feet to the very neck, and gracefully flowing behind. Having 
no other covering, they looked cool, if not comfortable. Our object was to purchase corn, and 
obtain from the people information regarding the country westward. No old corn was to be had, 
but thousands of bushels of this year’s growth were to be purchased at two dollars per fanega.| 
As this would he apt to injure grass-fed mules, we thought best to confine them to husks. Few 
of the people have travelled the road to Rio Abajo (Albuquerque), and we could gain little sat¬ 
isfaction upon that point. There are two traders residing here; one English, the other Amer¬ 
ican. The alcalde civilly conducted us to the latter, Mr. Kitchen, who entertained us with great 
hospitality at his mansion. 
* The adobe is made of an argillaceous earth, which is softened with water, and sometimes mixed with straw, and fragments 
of shells, or pebbles. It is pressed in a mould eighteen inches long, a foot wide, and six inches thick; and then turned out and 
dried in the sun. In building walls, the adobes are cemented together by a mortar made of clay. 
t A trifle more than two and a half bushels. 
6 h 
