334 ARMED TRAVELLERS. Book IL 
Chihuahua, we had the choice of two roads. The one is 
considerably shorter, but dangerous and difficult, as it takes 
a southern direction over the notorious medanos, or quick- 
sand hills ; the other avoids these by following the course 
of the river two days' journey as far as the village Guada- 
lupe, and again joins the high road somewhat to the 
north of Carrizal. We chose the last, and our caravan 
proceeded therefore down the valley to Guadalupe. 
The road at first passed close along the base of the allu- 
vial terrace, through thickets of mezquite and a shrubby 
plant of the order of composite ; then it wound up the ter- 
race, which consists of sand, gravel, and fragments of rocks, 
overgrown with mezquite, larrea, fouquiera, artemisia, 
shrubby labiates, cacti, yuccas, &c. &c. In some places the 
river had formed its channel close to the terrace, forming a 
perpendicular sand cliff, rendering the road at its very edge 
in no slight degree dangerous. We met several travellers 
here, alone and in parties, on foot and on horseback, but all, 
without exception, armed with guns, pistols, lances, and even 
bows and arrows. A division of Mexican cavalry passed 
us armed with carbines, pistols, lances, sabres, and shields. 
Colonel Langberg had been sent with this troop to quell a 
revolt in the military colony near Guadalupe, to which the 
poor colonists had been driven by hunger, and which the 
Colonel met with great forbearance and consideration. 
The people had driven away their commander, had seized 
some cattle, satisfied their hunger, and demanded arrears 
of pay. Some had crossed the river and deserted to Texas. 
The Mexican military colonies are villages for married 
soldiers, who are bound to cultivate the land as well as 
defend it ; but the plan does not appear to answer. Al- 
though this colony 1 is only a few miles distant from 
1 I cannot find the name among my notes. 
