The National tribune., 1896-04-09

Don Mariana Delgado and 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 90
miles east of the Rio Grande, and 80 or 60
miles from Albuquerque. There lay before
them a wide plain which rose into low table
lands off to the south and east. Ear to the
northwest lowered the bold, handsome con-
tours of the Sandia Mountains. Upon the
plain, miles away from the foot of the mesa,
two large circular spots shone dazzlingly
| white. Don Mariana pointed them out to his
| companion.
AThey are the salinas" he said. "Now
let us look for the wagons They should be
in sight by this time. Ah, there they are.
They will get to leading by noon"
Three wagons, drawn each by four mules,
came round n bend of the mesa at its foot,
crawling along toward the white spots on the
prairie. They were part of Den Mariano's
ranch outfit going TO the salinas for salt.
Let US ride on to the salinas and await
| them there" said Don Mariana, and the two
horsemen picked their way down the rough
burro trail to the plain, then put their horses
to a long gallop, which brought them in half
an hour to the salt lakes-for the salinas
literally are lake basins packed soldly with
salt Part of their surface was smooth and
level, like a water surface. Other places
were roHgh, and dug out in great holes like
cellars. 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 cattle and the wild
beasts of the plain, drawn hither by their
hunger for salt.
Going out upon one of the basins for
closer examination, the American found that
the pure white salt seen upon the surface was
only an incrustation a half inch thick, and
that beneath this stratum the salt was darker,
asif discolored by earthly matter.
'iHow came the salt beds here?" he asked
Don Mariana. 's-Are there salt springs at the
bottom Of the basins?"
The don shrugged his shoulders "Qulen
sabe," he answered. "They have always
been here. The Spanish colonists who first
cameato New Mexico. 300 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 VIE use for other purposes, is brought
from the States Yet many of the native
people still get their salt from here, rs my
teams come to-day to get the years supply for
the stock upon my ranches The trails you
see centering here are worn by the travel of
hundreds of years And the buffalo and an
telope in old times knew the salinas. All.
did not think an antelope was left sunear 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 unaware
of the two men who watched the timid, grace
full creatures as the don went on:
81 can remember the time when we had to
have weapons in our hands and good-sized
party when we came here for salt. The Mes
caleFo Apaehes and the Mavajoes were liable
to come as far as the salt lakes, and they were
always hostile The Comanches were sup
posed to be friendly with the New Mexicans,
but even they were not always to be trusted
when they met weak party out on the
plans. There has been q good deal of Indian