472 STAY AT EL PASO. Book III. 
loaded, on the Texan side of the Rio Grande, and to 
await some change in the affairs of Mexico — in short the 
fall of Santa Ana. Several merchants from the United 
States, who had arrived there before us, were similarly 
situated. In the few buildings at Franklin and Macgoffin- 
ville, there were probably lying merchandize to the value 
of about half a million dollars, destined for Chihuahua, 
which could not be imported. 
The reader may imagine the unpleasantness of a mer- 
chant's position, who, after having embarked his capital in 
an enterprise, finds it suddenly locked up in this manner. 
My friends viewed the matter coolly, and then took a 
sudden resolution : the goods were left at Franklin, under 
the care of Mr. M. whilst Mr. K. undertook to proceed 
with the mules and empty waggons to California, where 
good prices for them might be expected to realize the 
capital embarked ; this was estimated at about 40,000 
dollars. For my own part, the misfortune of my friends 
facilitated the accomplishment of my wish, of travelling 
across the rest of the continent ; and I did not hesitate a 
moment to accompany Mr. K. to California. 
Before, however, inviting my readers to accompany me 
across the steppes of Northern Sonora, the deserts of the 
Gila and Colorado, and the mountain passes of Los 
Angeles, to the shores of the Pacific, I must make a few 
observations relative to my stay at El Paso, from March 
23rd to June 4th. 
Our object in making this long stay was twofold : first, 
our animals had arrived so exhausted, that they needed a 
long rest before they were able to undergo fresh toil and 
privations ; we had, likewise, to await the commencement 
of the summer rains in the steppes west of the Rio Grande, 
and the ripening of the mezquite pods in the deserts of the 
