New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-04

.,u,oue IN the valley Of the Rio Grande, there
theIe IL a continual and steady descent; the
former being in a mountain region, the isrter
In tbe more temperate river region. Az ABOUT
ten miles from Santa re there IL fork IN the
road, the one leading by the Pueblo OF san DO
mnco 70 the river, the other by way OF Degi|
dos rancho and across the GalisteO Creek, 70
strike the river more 20 the south WeioHg"et
Che latter, making first camp az springs ao9is
two miles beyond the fork. The ROAD qnIn ~
strikes upon the river runs southTesI, h li,.he
the great Sandia mountain directly Ia iroi. on -,
way. About thirty-one or thlrtyt"o IN N +Sa
this road from Santa Re brought US in.o ,; c-
broad valley Of the Rio del Aorte, oea.n o|1t;.
of extensive irrigation and consldelaOITII
walton. Our first camp on tne NJ /, IL, Al NJ
near eOncal shaped hlH caDeu L'- .,aLa- &c
erto. dead mans hl) from tne n L 3d.
Toy;o Sy rho we're here beeaguered By Pueblo
Ird;sns and starved out or killed after pro-
lamne5 contest many years ago; and VINO hal
,.Ien ,sfnce on the top Of the hill One mile
tsn,o mi. hin is the mouth Of the Rio Tnerto,
,,J;cb Il simply creek, not running at the time
we crossed Il close by our camp and the hill
aforementioned, but on the opposite bank OF
the river is the Pueblo Of San Felipe, many
Of rs building are neatly whitewashed, and do
not now rec0lect Of having seen in New Mexico
a settlement of any descricription as neat AMI
cbeerfullooking as this. On the crest OF the
b;ob Mesa which towers over the west bank OF
the river are the ruins Of the ancient Pueblo OF
San Felipe, probably not inhabited since the
first occupation fthis country by the Spanish ex-
nlorers two hundred or three hundred years ago
Four or FIVE miles below Rio Tuerto we passed
through the village or settlement Of AlgodOnes,
n dirty looking place, built Of adobes as usual,
thence We passed a rancho, and again, five miles
further. the village Of Bernallill0, which Is
rather neater, and extends for near two miles
along the river. Four or FIVE miles still further
the Pueblo Of Sandal dirty and unprepOs-
sessing looking place, but situated in beautiful
part OF the valley Of the Rio Grande, and IN
appearance directly beneath the great Sandia
mountain. Sandia is Spanish word meaning
literally. Watermelon, hence IL cannot be the
proper Indian name for the Pueblo. had no
opportunty TO search out it's Indian name The
numerous axequas or irrigating bitches, which
cross the road at about every mile, afforded our
men supplies of water, 10 which, thus far upon
the march they had not been accustomed.
The valley Of the river at Sandia is from one
10 two miles broad and prettily cultivated with
corn and wheat. At Bernallillo apples OF
small size but pleasant tasted, many OF them
beng ripe, were offered us for sale this was
in the middle Of July. l had noticed many
piles Of stones along the whole distance be-
tween Iona del MuertO and Sandla, about two
feet high and ] aiterward learned that IN the
battle between the PueblOs and MeXlcans, oi
which have alreadymade mention, many were
killed as the Mexicans retreated TO the North.
Each heap of stones il intended as monument
to commemorate the death al that spot OF some
one of either party. Below Sanda march OF
five or six miles brought us to Alameda, well
cultivated rancho, and four miles further the
road led us through a series Of ranches, all
cultivated plantations and well irrigated by Wa
ter in azeguias from the river Albuquerque is
two or three miles below these ranches. These
villages and ranches in the River Valley are all
repulsiye looking, the buildings being construct
ed of adobes or mud, which renders the place
entirely undstinguishable until almost within
it's borders.
To the North and West Of Albuquerque
about threeiourths of IA mile, We found an en-
campment of three Companies of u. ). troops
called Camp Vigilance. Here our command
encampcd preparatory 10 Its separation OF 10
different dctachmcnts for the Rio AbajO and The
Nayaio country. had invested Albuquerque
with greatly more agreeable characteristic
than any settlement | had heard of in New
Mexico, but confess my disappointment was
very great Ii is certainly quite as unprepos
sesfing n place ms had seen in Ncw-Mexico,
being devoid of the hustle of business, built OF
earth and with but limited number OF stores
and shops. Opposite TO the town, and crown
ING the west bank of the river, are high aud de-
solsteloolmg sand bluffs or hills, the sight OF
which sent chill through my veins when | re-
membored that over and beyond them was the
continuation Of my Journey and my future STA
ton At Camp Vigilance remained for three
days, my time entirely occupied with prepare.
tons for my new march of two hundred and
ten miles Glad, however, was | 10 leave il,
TOR never in my life before have seen the same
number of flies aud mosquitoes gathered TO-
gethcr in one place. Apples, peaches, pears
and apricots are the chief fruits OF this part OF
the valley Of the Rio Grandc, nearly every gar
den is well filled with apricot trees.
Below the latitude OF Santa Ft the valley Of
the Rio del Norte takes the appellation of RE
Abaio dover riverO above Santa Fe Rio Arr.ba
upper rver)
NV detention at Santa Fe and in the valley o
the Rio del Norte was 50 short that had bat
little opportunity 10 collect further information
relative e. the customs of the country, habits
Of the people and other matters of interest
You must therefore rest satisfied with this Ions
but still meager detail of my journey aud o
the various points on the route.
may at future moment give you an &C
count Of my march into this uhe Navajo coun
try, but | can only promise that il will be little
else than transcript of my journal.