Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-03-05


information concerning this territory
and its people.
AT Santa Fe we took stage for Al
buquerque. one hundred and fifty
miles further south. A six hours ride
brought us to the banks of the Rio
Grande, which all along as far as we
travelled was beautifully diversified
with vineyards and extensive Ranches,
also some very nice haciendas. The
country is low, fiat and sandy, soil rich
and is cultivated entirely by irrigation.
At Albuquerque we left the stage line,
hired Mexican ponies, crossed the Rio
Grande, and started west on the 35th
parallel, having journey of one hun
drsd and sixty miles to perform
through Malpice, Masas, hostile tribes
! of Indians and murderous banditti.
We abandoned the road, employed a
Mexican guide to show us the trail.
The trail though more difficult to travel,
is less dangerous from Indians and
banditti. Our party at this time con-
sisted of only four Americans and our
guide, and the utmost caution was
necessary for our safety. and l must
confess that very often wished myself
on the road fighting band of robbers
instead of climbing almost inaccessible
cliffs and masas, where one false step
would have hurled me hundreds of feet
into dark, dismal and rocky canons.
Twenty-seven hours in the saddle and
we suddenly came in sight of Cubero,
a Mexican town of twelve hundred in
habitants. Here fortunately for our little
party we were compelled to stop to rest
ourselves and ponies, and had we pur-
sued our journey that evening, we
would all doubtless have performed the
journey we so much dread. For about
FIVE O'Clock on that evening the Nava-
joes attacked and killed four Mexieans,
and drove off four thousand head of
sheep, Immediately on the road we
were travelling. We remained in
Cubero until dark the following eve
ming, when we started to Fort Wingate,
thirty-one miles distant. This journey
we performed in two hours and fifty
FIVE minutes, and l don't think l ever
felt more grateful than when the SEN
tinel at the out post challenged, who
goes there. A sojourn in the noun
tains of twenty days completed our
business. Col. Hart, of the 37th In
fantry, very kindly rendered us an
ambulance to travel in on our return,
This more comfortable way of travelling
compelled us to follow the road, which
brought us through the Pueblo Indian
town of Laguna. am wholly unable
to give description of this tribe, their
mode of living, DC. Their houses are
built of adobe and without doors; their
mode of entrance is by ladders, which
are always drawn up at night for the
protection of the inhabitants. This
tribe is peaceable and industrious, they
treated,,us kindly, gave us touly, (which
is made of meal) the only kind of food
they seemed to possess. On our return
we spent few days in the towns of
albuquerque and Santa Fe. We at
tended several Battles and witnessed a
great deal of the national sport. Cock
fighting on Sunday Immediately after
church. The principal part of the male
inhabitants of these towns collect on
the plaza, form ring and commence
this brutal sport. Sunday night is
also their great Bailie night, although
they have them frequently during the
week, and l have heard that there was
a fandango in Santa Fe every night in
the year. The glare and blaze of the
bailie gives facilities for even an imper-
feet artist to add a picture to the gal
lerv of Mexican life. The fashion of
the fandango is net varied by time or
place, its elements are the same in every
section of the country. Every body
accompanied or unaccompaned
as they choose. No lntroductions are
among the attendants rich or
poor. Bow to the lady you would like
to dance with and up she steps as
graceful as a fawn, and seeming pleased
with the privilege. But beware when
she goes to be seated that you neglect
not to hunt her reboSo, or shawl, and
softly spread it over her shoulders
She puts it up for an insult if you don't
and seldom dances with you again.
For freedom from vulgarity or immod
esty, the Senoritas cannot be equaled
by either the Americans or French.
PoliteDess and courtesy to every stran-
ger in the company is the cardinal yir-
tue of all Mexican men and women
The senoritas are always accompanied
by their mammas and sometimes by
their padres, who are constantly watch
ing the actions of the hombres toward
their muchachos. On my return to Fort
Union l found several copies of the
Journal, that had arrived during my
absence, and | assure you nothing could
have been more gratifying to me than
10 read the local news of my loved
native city. am also glad to learn
that you have prospect of Railroad,
which will be of great advantage to
your long isolated city. expect to 90
10 Santa Fe in few days, and will write
you again on my return.
Truly yours, &c.,