408 THE NOBTENOS. Book II. 
The country was scarcely less barren or bleak as we 
approached the Presidio del Norte by the Eio Grande. I 
never, either then or subsequently, saw an inhabited 
region which so strongly retained the character of a 
savage wilderness. The Eio Conchos unites its clear 
waters here with the muddy stream of the Eio Grande. 
The junction of these rivers is surrounded by rocks and 
remnants of the alluvial masses, consisting of clay and sharp 
broken stones, and forming the lowest terrace of the 
valley. Afar, the eye rests on nothing but gloomy moun- 
tains of the most irregular and varied forms, while near, a 
high, thick, thorny chaparral obstructs the road and the 
view, as if guarding a paradise. 
It is difficult, in the orological confusion of this region, 
to designate its general character in a few words. Thus 
much, however, may be said: — the valley of the Eio 
Grande is closed at the Presidio del Norte by a mountain 
rampart, like a bar pushed across, through which a narrow 
inaccessible chasm gives passage to the river ; many 
falls occur in its course, which is said to be indescribably 
wild, and I was even told that it burrowed under a moun- 
tain. Geographers may expect to find desirable information 
in the publications of the scientific labours of the Mexican 
North American Boundary Commission. 
The people here are savage, and their habits as rude as 
the nature around them. The Nortenos — as the inha- 
bitants of the Presidio del Norte are called in Mexico — 
are the allies, spies, powder purveyors, the receivers and 
buyers of stolen goods, of the Texan Comanches. Necessity 
may have driven them to this, for, isolated and exposed as 
they are, they could scarcely otherwise have held their 
ground between the Comanches and Apaches. Their 
alliance with the Comanches is in so far advantageous to 
