F

786 .682 v.2

Buhr

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1844, by
HENRY G. LANGLEY.

in the Clerk's office of the District Court for the Southern District of

New York.

S. W. BENEDICT & Co.,
STEREOTYPERS AND PRINTERS, 16 Spruce st.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

CHAPTER I.

Page

A Return to Prairie Life-Abandonment of the regular

Route The Start-A Suicide-Arrest of a Mulatto for

Debt-Cherokee 'Bankrupt Law'-Chuly, the Creek In- 1

dian-The Muster and the Introduction-An' Olla Po-

drida'-Adventure of a 'Down-Easter'-Arrival of U.

S. Dragoons-Camp Holmes, and the Road—A Visit

from a Party of Comanches-Tabba-quena, a noted Chief

-His extraordinary Geographical Talent-Indians set out

for the Capitan Grande,' and we through an unexplored

Region-Rejoined by Tabba-quena and his 'suite'-Spring

Valley The Buffalo Fever-The Chase-A Green-horn

:Scamper-Prairie, Fuel,

CHAPTER II.

Travelling out of our Latitude-The Buffalo-gnat-A Ki-

awa and Squaw—Indian crim. con. Affair-Extraordinary

Mark of confidence in the White Man-A Conflagration-

An Espy Shower-Region of Gypsum-Our Latitude-

A Lilliputian Forest-A Party of Comanches-A Visit

to a 'Dog-Town'-Indian Archery-Arrival of Comanche

Warriors-A'Big Talk' and its Results-Speech of the

Capitan Mayor-Project of bringing Comanche Chiefs to

Washington-Return of Lieut. Bowman, and our March

resumed Melancholy Reflections-Another Indian Visit

--Mexican Captives-Voluntary Captivity-A sprightly

Mexican Lad-Purchase of a Captive-Comanche Trade

and Etiquette-Indians least dangerous to such as trade

with them,

9

27

Ponds and Buffalo Wallows-Valley of the Canadian, and

romantic Freaks of Nature-Formation of Ravines-Mel-

ancholy Adventure of a Party of Traders in 1832-Fears

of our being lost-Arrival of a Party of Comancheros, and

their wonderful Stories-Their Peculiarities and Traffic

-Bitter Water, and the Salitre of New Mexico-Avant-

couriers for Santa Fé-Patent Fire-arms and their Vir-

tues-Ranchero Ideas of Distance, and their Mode of giv-

ing Directions-The Angostura, and erroneous Notions

of the Texans-A new Route revealed-Solitary Travel—

Supply of Provisions sent back-Arrival at Santa Fé-

Gov. Armijo, etc.-A' Flare-up' with His Excellency,

CHAPTER IV.

Preparations for a Start to Chihuahua-Ineptness of Mar-

ried Men for the Santa Fé Trade-Annoying Custom-

house Regulations-Mails in New Mexico-Insecurity of

Correspondence-Outfit and Departure-Derecho de Con-

sumo-Ruins of Valverde-Towns without Houses'-

La Jornado del Muerto-Laguna and Ojo del Muerto-

A Tradition of the Arrieros-Laborious Ferrying and

Quagmires-Arrival at Paso del Norte-Amenity of the

Valley-Sierra Blanca and Los Organos-Face of the

Country-Seagrass-Médanos or Sand-hills—An acci-

dental River-Carrizal-Ojo Caliente-Laguna de En-

cinillas-Southern Haciendas-Arrival-Character of

the Route and Soil,

CHAPTER V.

Trip from Chihuahua to Aguascalientes, in 1835-Southern

Trade and Ferias-Hacienda de la Zarca, and its innu-

merable Stock-Rio Nazas, and Lakes without outlet-

Perennial Cotton-Exactions for Water and Pasturage-

Village of Churches-City of Durango and its Peculiari-

ties-Fruits, Pulque, etc.-Persecution of Scorpions-

Negroship in the ascendant-Robbers and their modus

operandi-City of Aguascalientes-Bathing Scene-Haste

to return to the North-Mexican Mule-shoeing-Difficul-

ties and Perplexities—A Friend in time of need-Reach

Zacatecas City Accommodations-Hotels unfashionable

-Locale, Fortifications, etc., of the City of Zacatecas—

Siege by Santa Anna and his easy-won Victory-At Du-

rango again-Civil Warfare among the 'Sovereigns'—

Page

47

64

CONTENTS.

Page

Hair-breadth 'scapes-Troubles of the Road-Safe Ar-

rival at Chihuahua-Character of the Southern Country, 84

CHAPTER VI.

Visit to the Mining Town of Jesus-Maria-Critical Roads-

Character of the Town-Losing Speculations-Mine of

Santa Juliana-Curious mining Operations-Different

Modes of working the Ore-The Crushing-mill, etc.-

Barras de Plata-Value of Bullion-The Silver Trade-

Return to Chihuahua-Resumption of the regular Nar-

rative--Curious Wholesales-Money Table-Redundancy

of Copper Coin-City of Chihuahua and its Peculiari-

ties-Ecclesiastical Architecture-Hidalgo and his Mon-

ument-Public Works, and their present Declension-

Fête in honor of Iturbide-Illiberality towards Americans

-Shopping Mania-Anti-Masonic Auto de Fe,

CHAPTER VII.

Departure for Santa Fé-Straitened for Food-Summary

Effort to procure Beef-Seizure of one of our Party-Al-

tercation with a Rico-His pusillanimous Procedure-

Great Preparations in Chihuahua for our Arrest-Arri-

val of Mexican Troops-A polite Officer-Myself with

three of my Men summoned back to Chihuahua-Amia-

ble Conduct of Señor Artalejo-Junta Departmental and

Discussion of my Affair-Writ of Habeas Corpus not in

vogue-The Matter adjusted and Passports granted-The

Morale-Impunity of savage Depredations-Final Start-

Company of Paseños with their Fruits and Liquors—Ar-

rival at Santa Fé

CHAPTER VIII.

Preparations for returning Home-Breaking out of the

Small-pox-The Start-Our Caravan-Manuel the Co-

manché-A new Route-The Prairie on Fire-Danger

to be apprehended from these Conflagrations-A Coman-

che Buffalo-chase-A Skirmish with the Pawnees--An

intrepid Mexican-The Wounded-Value of a thick

Skull-Retreat of the Enemy and their Failure-A bleak

Northwester-Loss of our Sheep-The Llano Estacado

and Sources of Red River-The Canadian River-Cru-

elties upon Buffalo-Feats at 'Still Hunting'-Mr. Weth-

ered's Adventure-Once more on our own Soil-The

False Washita-Enter our former Trail-Character of

the Country over which we had travelled-Arrival at Van

105

122

Buren-The two Routes to Santa Fé-Some Advantages

of that from Arkansas-Restlessness of Prairie Travellers

in civilized Life, and Propensity for returning to the Wild

Deserts,

Page

136

CHAPTER IX.

CONCLUSION OF THE SANTA FE TRADE..

Decline of Prices-Statistical Table-Chihuahua Trade-

Its Extent-Different Ports through which Goods are in-

troduced to that Market-Expedition between Chihuahua

and Arkansas--The Drawback-The more recent Inci-

dents of the Santa Fé Caravans-Adventures of 1843—

Robbery and Murder of Chavez-Expedition from Texas—

Defeat of Gen. Armijo's Van-guard-His precipitate Re-

treat-Texan Grievances-Unfortunate Results of indis-

criminate Revenge-Want of discipline among the Tex-

ans-Disarmed by Capt. Cook-Return of the Escort of

U. S. Dragoons, and of the Texans-Demands of the

Mexican Government-Closing of the Santa Fé Trade, 159

CHAPTER X.

GEOGRAPHY OF THE PRAIRIES.

Extent of the Prairies-Mountains-Mesas or Table-lands-

El Llano Estacado-Cañones-Their Annoyance to the

early Caravans-Immense Gullies-Coal Mines and other

Geological Products-Gypsum-Metallic Minerals-Sa-

lines-Capt. Boone's Exploration-Salt Plain' and 'Salt

Rock'-Mr. Sibley's Visit-Saline Exudations-Unhab-

itableness of the high Prairies-Excellent Pasturage-

Rich border Country sufficient for two States-Northern

Texas-Rivers of the Prairies-Their Unfitness for

Navigation-Timber-Cross Timbers-Encroachments

of the Timber upon the Prairies-Fruits and Flowers-

Salubrity of Climate,

178

CHAPTER XI.

ANIMALS OF THE PRAIRIES.

The Mustang or Wild Horse-Capturing him by Creas-

ing,' and with the Lazo-Horse-flesh-The Buffalo-Its

Appearance-Excellence of its Meat-General Utility

to the Indian and Traveller-Prospect of its Extinction-

Hunting the Buffalo with Bow and Arrows, the Lance,

etc.-'Still-hunting'-The Buffalo ferocious only when