Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-02-05
ORIGINAL NARRATIVE.
Notes Of a Seven Months Journey 10
CALIFORNIA,
VIA. FORT SMITH, SANTA FE GlLA RIVER, AND
THE TUE LAKES
From the Private Journal kcptLy
wM. II. CIAMBERLIN, OF Lxw!sErsG, Pa
CONTINUED.

Tuesday, June ~ Started about IL
O'Clock. The road IS tolerable good The
country very mountainous. Passed through
San Pedro. small ranchero Containing
about dozen houses, about 60 acres o
land under cultivation the wheat louket
well, about Is inches high. Encumpeo
near a ranch, where we found spring OF
water, but no grass. Saw some pine 10.
day. and few oak sapIn.s. Tnis place i,
Gale San An'Oneiic There is an Amer.
lcan lIvlng here, who is very cumfnr,atly
situated 10 his adobe house; he raise.
grain, vegetables. &c, and makes lumber
by horse power, iu. which he finds read =
market al Santa Fe. Distance, Is miles
-9I7.
Wednesday, June 2O.-Our course S
W, through the mountains. We passed
through San Antonio. Containing about
$50 inhabitants, and San Pedro, Of about
the same size. We Travelled down the bed
of dry stream for several miles. and
through some canons, the mountains or
either side towering above the clouds.
Abou, o'clock we emerged upon a large
plain, sloping westward 10 the waters OF
The Rio GranIe; here we had a beautiful
display f,hat strange phenomena OF nature.
mirage We imagined we dis;incly
saw the waters of the river. long before We
came in sight Of IL. which We did no, reach
until O'Clock. We encamped on he fiat,
near The town Of Albuquerque. This no.
bic river, 50 celebrated in history of late
wears, i, nearly mile wide a, this point
Its waiers have been higher this season
than ever known before, and although con.
siderably abaIed. is still very much swol
len. and more than bank full ~ many
places. A pack-mue company of 50 men
are about crossing at This place ; they ferry
ith.ir layyage aud swim their mules. Tne
current is very swift. The wafer cold. aud
oi muddy or iurhd nature. Albuquerque
coora,,,s ai.nui 800 irhabrIunts, aud Is the
ao,, clrauly, respectable l"'king M-x'can
village we have yet seen. There is
de,achmen, Of U S. SOLDIERS quariered
he,p. Two Amrricsn g-nlIe'"en. M-s>r>.
We,, and Beard, from k.n'ucky, s"llled
here two Years ago. They purchased he
governors Palace and rauch. are farming
on large scale. and expect 10 make lor-
'une in a few wears. Labor is worth from
50 TO - yer mnnih here. GU, # " hich rh-
man is Obliged 10 board himself. There
Is no wood IN the neghborh"od oil the
place, and II Is worth about $50 per Amer
can cord we paid 81 so Tor enough to
cook our supper and breakfast. The lila
hlc land twhat there Is OF II produces well.
and large herds Of cattle, horses, mules.
sheep. and goats, feed upon The grass along
the banks OF the river vegetables grow
well here, and irui comes TO the greatest
perfection. Distance, Is miIes-942.
Thursday. June 2I.-Woke up this
morning with my face very much swollen,
caused by sleep'ng upon the damp ground,
which had lately been owe! flowed. This
morning Dulchman by the name OF John
Franklin joined our company; he was
very ANXIOUS 10 travel with US, being alone,
aud We look hun along, more on, Of com
passion than any other Cons dera,ion. (He
WAS Pu.ander by birh. and proved
very good l.llow.) Sarred Gown Inc river
This morning, which runs a due southern
course. For The most part Of the time, We
through very heavy sand beds and
hills, which vas drifting, aud almost suil;o- /
Gated US al LINES. This is The nature OF
the high ground on the east side of the
river. As far as the eye can reach, noh-
ing but bleak, barren continuation Of
sand hills is visible. We encamped this
evening" in cottonwood grove, near
pool Of water ; had pretty good grazing
for our animals. There is large Mex.
can ranch near US, fine viney arc, ,irui, trees,
&c. the grove reminds me Of an old Penn.
sylvana apple orchard-alI bu: The fruit.
Capt. Jenniier lost his pack.mule thi,
with all his effects, and broke
down his riding mule in search Of it. As
sembled this evening for the purpose Of
our company. and eIec:ing IA
Captain, Maj. Green's term OF Office hav-
ng expired when we reached The Rio
Srande- After agreeing upon certain rules
and regulations for the government, Of the
Jas. H. Dixon. Of Baton Rouge,
La, was duly nominated and elected Cap
tain, until we reached the diggings."
Distance. 81 miles-y63.
Friday, June 22.-To-day we passed
through Puerto. and several smaller Mexi.
can towns, which are scarcely worth a
description, having about The same appear-
,nce and characieris,ics saw some In
Iians along the river. who suppose live