The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-18
NEW MEXICO.
The Destination OF Glen. Kearney's Expe-

M0tomOras |
The territory Of New Mexico lies north Of the goth
parallel Of latitude, end its greatest length from north to
south i 200 mile. from east to west It's boundary has
l geographical position remarkably singular the Rio
trands passes through il nearly in central line from
north to south. Its whole entire surface s succession
Of mountains rising in majestic spendor to that giddy
height whore even the cedar and pine can retain no foot
hold their comic heads covered with the white veil of
perpetual The inhabitants live the deep valleys,
and upon the margin ofthe Rio Grsnde villages on the
river are situated in il, different bends where sucen-
The greatsst extent occupied by settlements is three
hundred miles in length and hundred in width the
population, taken collectively is about fifty thousand
The first village in the north is 81 Pueblo de Taos,
which gives name to the valley IL which il situated
The original inhabitants Indians, and known by the
try when the spsniard. ar.t visited Mexico and they
spaniards extended their dominion over this Indian
try BY the aid Of Gospe missionaries they found those
r rS ,rend hTnsss and gnoa
neighbors to be concilisted but not subdued.
The Pueblo Of Taos immediately at the foot Of the
west side Of the hrs ridge Of the Rocky Mountains
There small stream that issues from ravine, flows
out into valley and eventually mixes its waters with
the Rio Grande which separates the two departments
The village possesses much sngulary combining great
strength with the bodest conception in the architecture
the most sS%pi's Sy IN honey s
partnents, the rivulet dividing il in the centre This
a first sight might not seem to have particular design
The buildings are exactly similar The first or base
ment story occupies large upon this is reared
another story being smaller than the first by ten feet
the pagoda becomes nine stories high In the basement
story there DOORS the entrance being through
round hole in the Offset which forms the roof; pole
being planted in the aperture with ladder attached by
which they ascend and descend The bull ngs resemble
pyramids. with the exception Of their being square
the heads Of families divided themselves of and laid two
foundations precisely similar and reared upon them two
equal structures What field here for emulaionl
what barriers to asssilng enemy7 As their genera
tons grew up, the youth from both sides would meet
and msnly sports endeavor excel The great patron
Saint Of the village is Saint Jerome; they having adopted
the Catholic religion, through the powerful influence of
csebrst.d by sescns thirty of ,Ss eboee,t youbs
from each side Of the stream to compete with
Their in manly sports race course is cleared out in
wide enough for two to run abreast An equal number
Of the old men Of each village chosen to prepare the
anmating and soul stirring the beholder view
those sixty champions in all the pride of nature, adorn
making selections for the lists the pride and boast the
villages brought out all chieains Of the great
note The honor Of their ancient houses staked
upon them; their fair is entrusted TO the race,
and their feats viewed by the fares of the fair"
The houses present vast pyramid Of human beings
all the woman from the adjoining villages coming to
witness this annual festival About eleven o'clock the
signal il given and the commences. At each end
Of the track stand thirty runners fifteen on side as
starts from the other, and the FIRST thirty that run
through are considered as having gained the lau-
rsls OF the day. They then form in grand process
sions, and in Wild chorus Of song surround the build
ings, from which In great profusion IS showered
upon them varieties OF fruits and CAKES the crow vi
spectators mixing in a joyful scramble. The morning
feas having passed of, the evenings interlude com
msnces Between these two heaven reared towers
stands tall slender pole of native pine the bark peeled
on and the polished surface creased On the TOP OF the
pole framed cross upon which hung baskets Of
fruits and festoons, ingenousy woven, Of sweet cakes,
nowers and smbIemacai devices pictured with silver
cosrs suspendsd by wires and to crown the rich Of
upon the very top Of the pole stands aged and
esPectaDle ram, fast pnioned to the place. large
crowd has kathsfed round to witness the rustic scene
10 announced by the merry peals Of music and the
loud piercing screams Of the scaling squsdrons they