Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-04-16

From the Ner York Saa.

From the New York Saa.
Den Mariaao Delgado aud. his
American friend, on their way to
Las Salinas, rode to the edge of the
mesa where it drops abruptly down
to the lower levels. They were 40
miles east OF the Rio Grande, and
50es so miles from Albuquerque.
There lay before them 9 wide plain
which rose into low table lands OF
to the south and east. Far to the
northwest lowered the bold, hand
some contours Of the Eandia Moan
taina. upen So pisi1. nilss ax1y
from the foot Of the mesa, two
large, circular spots shone dazzling
ly white. Don Mariana pointed
them out to his companion.
They are the saiinas,' he said.
Now, let us look for the wagons.
They should be in sight by this
time. All, there they are. They
will get to loading by noon.'
Three wagons, drawn each BY
four mules, came around o bend of
the mesa at its foot, crawling along
toward the white spots on the prai.
rie. They were part of DON Mari
amos ranch outfit going to the "a
linas for salt.
"Let us ride on to the salinas and
await them there" said Don Mar
ino, and the two horsemen picked
their way down the rough burro
trail to the plain, then put their
horses to Q long gsllop which
brought them in half an hour to the
salt lakes-for the salinas literally
are lake basins packed solidly with
salt. Part of their surface was
smooth and level, like O water sur
face. Other places were rough,
aud dug out In great holes like Gel
lars, showing where salt gatherers
had been at work. Deeply worn
trails led to the lakes from the
north, the west, and the south and
the ground about them was trodden
with the feet of sheep, horses and
csttla- and the Wild beasts of the
plain, drawn hither by their hun
ger for salt.
Going out upon one of the basins
for closer examination, the Amer
lean found that the pure white salt
seen upon the surface was only an
incrustation half inch thick, and
that beneath this stratum the salt
was darker, as il discolored by
earthly matter.
How came the salt beds here p
he asked Don Mariana. Are there
salt springs at the bottom of the
basins ?
The don shrugged his shoulders.
'Quien sabe,' he answered. They
have always been here. The Span
ish colonists who first came to New
Mexico. 800 years ago, got their
salt here, and their descendants have
done the same to this day. Since
the railroad came the salt we use
on our tables, and much that we
use for other purposes, is brought
from the States. Yet many Of the
native people still get their salt
from here, as my teams come today
to get the years supply for the
stock upon my ranches. The trails
you see centeriug here are worn by
the travel of hundreds of years.
And the buffalo and antelope in
old times knew the salinas. All, l
did not think an antelope was left
10 near the Rio Grande.'
At the further end Of the further
basin three antelope stood at the
edge eagerly nibbling salt. Their
hunger for salt had overcome their
fear Of man, and they acted as if
unsware of two men who watched
the timid, graceful creatures as the
don went on:
q can remember the time when
We had to have weapons in our
hands and a good-sized party when
we came here for salt. The Mesca-
lero Apaches aud the Navajoes were
liable to come % far a. the salt
lakes. and they were always hostile.
The Comsnches were supposed to
be friendly with the New Mexicans
but even they we're not always to
be trusted when they met q weak
party ont on the plains. There has
been q good deal of Indian fight
ing frst and last about these basins
and the trails leading to them.
There was duel fought here many
years ago that was very remarkable.
Il occurred long before was born,