Narrative of the Texan Santa Fé Expedition

By George Wilkins Kendall

"An account of sufferings...from hostile Indians and final capture of the Texans." -Times-Picayune, Aug. 15, 1844

"A participant in the ill-fated Texan Santa Fe Expedition...Kendall was among those captured by the Mexican army." -Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Sept. 23, 2007

"A yo

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bookcrop
• Release date: Aug 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088252017

Book preview

Narrative of the Texan

Santa Fé Expedition

George Wilkins Kendall

(1809-1867)

Originally published

1844

Contents

PREFACE.

CHAPTER I. Objects of the first Texan Santa Fe Expedition. Determination to accompany it. The Western Limits of Texas. Her Claim to the Rio Grande. Colonel Butler's contemplated Expedition to Santa Fe. Causes of its Failure. Preparations for joining the Texans. Departure from New-Orleans. Steam-ship New-York. Captain Wright's Specific against Thirst. Arrival at Galveston. Frank Combs. City of Houston. Stories of old Hunters and Campaigners. Houston Horse Jockeys. Choice of an Animal. Leave Houston for Austin. Ladies on Horseback. Race with a Thunder-shower. Incidents upon the Road. Arrival at Austin. Mr. Falconer. English Travellers. Party to San Antonio made up. Jim the Butcher sent to the Stable. Mexican Mountain Pony. His Mustaches, and Powers of Endurance.

CHAPTER II. Leave Austin for San Antonio. Prospects of a Shower. Singular Conduct of Mat Small. A regular Soaking. Crossing the Colorado. No Bottom for short-legged Animals. Venison for Supper. More of Mat Small. Damp Lodgings. Serenade of Wolves. Meeting with old Friends. The; St. Mark's. Head Springs. Disturbance at Night. Arrival of Friends from Austin. Journey towards San Antonio renewed. Colonel Cooke in search of a Short Cut. Encounter with a Texan War Party. Hostile Indians about. A Texan killed. Mr. Falconer's Portrait taken while sit ting upon a Mule. Amusing Adventure. More scared than hurt. The Guadalupe. The Salado. Night Entry into San Antonio. Yelping Curs. Fun at a Fandango. A Mexican Dance. Monte. Getting the Hang of the Game. Return to Lodgings. Comparative Merits of Floors. Difference between Plank, Stone, and Earth. Rough Life in Perspective. Nothing after getting used to it.

CHAPTER III. Description of San Antonio. Fondness of the Women for Bathing. Climate. Irrigating Canals. Fruits. The old Spanish Missions. Objects for which they were constructed. The Alamo. Concepcion. San Juan. San Jose. La Espada. Bowie and Crockett. Church of San Antonio. Anecdote of General Cos. Mexican Merchants from the Rio Grande. Return to Austin. Incidents upon the Road. A Texan Leather Stocking. An Adventure. Out-tricking a Party of Indians. Another Night at the St. Mark's. Fruitless Chase after Camanches. Hog-wallow Prairie. Arrival at Camp. More of the Camanches. Plain Supper and good Appetite. Insight into Astronomy. Once more at Austin. A Fall in the Dark. Speculations while falling. Broken Bones. Dancing Days over, or the Jig up. Consolation under Misfortune.

CHAPTER IV. Visit from General Lamar. Preparations for a Start. Pleasant Anticipations. Northers. Bright Side of the Picture. Speculations as to the Reception of the Expedition at Santa Fe. No Thoughts of Fighting the New Mexicans. Senor Navarro. A Jersey Wagon provided. Departure from Austin. Adieu to Civilization. A modern Athens. Its sudden Rise, and more sudden Fall. President Lamar in Camp. Arrival at the Brushy. General Joy among the Pioneers. Reviewed by the President. Order of March. Tricks of young Oxen. Upsets. Arrival at the San Gabrielle. Camp Stories. Opossum Creek. Scene of a Fight with the Camanches. Anecdote of two Brothers. A night Storm. Buffalo in Sight. Petrifactions. Stories of Buffalo. A Youngster caught. Methods of Hunting the Buffalo. A regular Chase. Buffalo on every Side. Fitzgerald, and his Zeal. Falconer among the Buffalo. Returns of Killed and Wounded. Arrival at Little River. Buffalo Calves in Camp. Manner of taking them.

CHAPTER V. Sending back for more Cattle. Rations of Beef for each Man. Idle Hour in Camp. Annoying Insects. Night Alarms. Death of Lockridge. A Dutchman shot at. Improvident Waste of Provisions. Game in our Vicinity. Sickness of General McLeod Once more on the Road. Bird's Battle-ground. A Visit from Mustangs. The White Steed of the Prairies. Stories in relation to this Horse. Cow Creek. Plenty of Buffalo. Repairing Wagons. Profanity of the Teamsters. Out of Water. Fourth of July on the Prairies. Celebration among the Clouds. A troublesome Visiter. Rattlesnakes and Tarantulas. Death of Flint. Crossing the Bosque. The Antelope, or Mountain Goat. Simplicity of this Animal. Another Branch of the Bosque. Difficulty of crossing. More Swearing. A Stampede! Singular Effect of Fright upon Horses and Oxen. Falconer's Horse at his Eccentricities. A Private Stampede. Laughable Antics. Falconer's Philosophy

CHAPTER VI. The Valley of Cedral Creek. Singular Natural Road. Another Delay. Arrival of General McLeod with additional Cattle. The March resumed. Bad Travelling. Delicious Spring of Water. Valley of the Brazos. Fondness of our Animals for its Waters. Crossing the Brazos. Prairie on Fire. Out of Water again. Sufferings of Man and Beast. A cool Spring discovered. Natural Bathing-tub. Fresh Indian Sign. A recently-deserted Village. Trick of a Wag. The Camanche Peak. Seeing the Elephant. The Cross Timbers. Description of this singular Forest. Arrival at Noland's River. Destruction of our Tents. The crossing of Noland's River. Deserted Indian Village. Latitude and Longitude taken. In the Midst of our Troubles, Our last Day in the Cross Timbers. A gloomy Night. Once more upon the open Prairie. A hearty Meal. Speculations as to the Route we had taken. The Banks of Red River supposed to be visible.

CHAPTER VII. Trail of the Chihuahua Traders. Causes of the Failure of that Enterprise. A fresh Indian Burn. Dr. Whittaker lost. Indian Dogs. Their forlorn Appearance. Exciting Scene. An Indian Buffalo Chase. Well rid of annoying Visiters. Buffalo Meat for Dinner. Pack of miserable Curs. A recently-deserted Indian Camp. Dr. Whittaker again among us. A white Flag sent out. Beautiful Camping-ground. An Eclipse. Once more on Horseback. Singular Chase. Both Parties mistaken. A Soaking. Carlos, a Mexican, joins the Spy Company. Plausibility of his Stories. The supposed Red River. Parley with a Party of Wacoes. Their Insolence. Arrival at a Waco Village. Its desertion by the Inhabitants. Beautiful Location of the Town. Its Houses and Corn-fields. An Indian Musical Instrument. Speculations upon Love. High State of Civilization of the Wacoes. Causes of the Hostility of the Wacoes to the Texans. Departure from the Village. Brackish Water. Fear of the Prairie Indians of Artillery. Origin of this Fear.

CHAPTER VIII. Join the Spy Company. Farther Speculations as regards Red River. Advantages of travelling with the Spies. Beautiful Streams and cool Arbours. Visit from Mustangs. A dashing wild Horse. Different Modes of catching Mustangs. Indians in Sight. Guarding against a night Attack. Description of Country. Rough Travelling. Arrival at a Fresh water Stream. Carlos thinks Himself at Home. General Joy in Camp. Scanty Rations. A Shower and a Stampede. Cross the supposed Red River again. Scarcity of Sign. Mountains ahead. A Labyrinth of Difficulties. Broken Country. A hunting Adventure. Get lost upon the Prairie. Hopelessness of my Situation. Ruminations upon the Horrors of being Lost. Fortunate Escape from Difficulty. A Ride through a Rattlesnake Region. Once more among my Friends. Unpleasant Dreams. A Mesquit Prairie. Carlos again at Home. Three of the Texans sent forward to the Settlements. Carlos takes the Guidance of the Expedition. A Buffalo Chase. River seen to the South. An Adventure with Deer. Great Waste of Powder and Ball. A severe Case of the Buck Ague. Symptoms and general Appearance of that singular Disease.

CHAPTER IX. Brackish Water. Los Cuervos, or The Crows. Carlos and his Speculations. Stream on our Left visited. Opinion of Old Paint. Startling Surmises. No Water. Endurance of the Mule. Singular Valley. Water seen in the Distance. Perilous Descent of a Bluff. Arrival at the River. More Brackish Water. An Alarm. Fire in Camp. Terrific Spread of the Flames. Explosion of Cartridges. Night Ascent of the Bluffs. Ravages of the Fire. Extent of our Loss. Magnificent night Scene. Our Camp by Daylight. Coffee too much burned. Compelled to fall back upon First Principles. Again on the March. Intolerable Suffering from Thirst. A Beautiful Camp. Disappearance of Carlos and Brignoli. Horrors of our Situation. Lost, and without a Guide upon the Prairies. Shower on the Espy Principle. Party sent out to Explore. Rough Travelling. Gloomy Prospects. Return to Camp. Ten Miles for a Draught of Water. Doing our Washing. Company of Spies sent out. Death of Doctor Brashear. Bitter Water. Rations reduced. Sufferings now commencing. Return of one of the Spies. Again on the March. Visit to a Commonwealth of Prairie Dogs. Description of these singular Animals.

CHAPTER X. A Meal of Prairie Dogs. Arrival at another brackish Water Camp. Shower at Night, with fresh Water in the Morning. Return of the Spy Company. A regular Northeaster. Report of the Spies. Disagreeable Bivouac. Indians in Camp. Horses stolen. A bad Bargain. Daring of the Indians. Fine Weather again. Once more on the Road. Dog Towns. Meeting with a Party of Indians. Horse Meat far from being bad Eating. Wolves about. A dreary Desert. Delicious fresh-water Stream. Latitude and Longitude again taken. Pleasant Prospects. Again encompassed with Difficulties. A Passage out found. Steppes. Mesquit Prairie and Prairie Dogs. Mountains in the Distance. Singing Birds, and Thoughts of Home. Delusive Hopes. More Horses stolen. Bed of Large River crossed. Arrival at the Quintufue. Large Indian Camp discovered. Cayguas on all Sides. Indian Provisions A Party sent out. Farther Advance impossible. A Night without Water. Preparations for taking a back Track. Exciting News. Firing of Guns heard. Lieutenant Hull and four Men killed by Cayguas. A Chase after Indians. Return 'to the Quintufue. Determination to divide the Command. Description of the Cayguas.

CHAPTER XI. Departure of the Advance in search of the Settlements. Summit of the Steppe gained. Level Prairie before us. A lovely Scene. Speculations in relation to Red River. A Bear Chase. Bruin noosed. The March continued. Sagacity of a Mule. Arrival at a singular Chasm. Impossibility of crossing. A heavy Prairie Shower. Appearance of our Men. Description of the Chasm. A Crossing found.: Loneliness of the Prairies. Scarcity of Game. Begin to suffer Hunger. Arrival at another awful Abyss. Farther Difficulty in crossing. Hunger increasing. Singular Birds. Mustangs and Antelopes. Their exceeding Shyness. Curlews. A Buffalo descried. Preparations for a Chase to the Death. -Tom Hancock and his Skill. Endurance of Jim the Butcher. Description of the Chase. Poor Prospects of a Supper.

CHAPTER XII. A successful Search. The Buffalo brought to Bay. Appearance of my Horse after the Chase. Prospects of another Shower. Adventure with a Rattlesnake in the Dark. Fortunate Escape. The Shower upon us. Buffalo found in the Morning. March resumed. Swimming our Animals. Singular Method of Cooking. Wolves in our Vicinity. Encounter with a Drove of Mustangs. Excitement among us. Mountains discovered ahead. Leave the grand Prairie. Singular Hills. Compelled to abandon our Course. Chances becoming Desperate. Suffering and Starvation. Large freshwater Stream discovered. Speculations as to its Name. Mexican Sign seen. More Remarks in relation to Red River. Plum Patches. Carlos and Brignoli seen. Their Sufferings. The Texans driven to the greatest strait for Food. An Anecdote. Compelled to eat broken-down Horse Flesh. A cold, raw Night. Fairly among the Rocky Mountains. A beautiful Valley. A Feast of Catfish. Arrival at the Angosturas. Encounter with a Party of Mexicans. Unwonted Excitement. Matias sent back to the Command. Advance towards the Settlements. Farther Sufferings of the Texans. Meet with an immense Herd of Sheep. A Feast. Dissertation on Starvation. Mexican Shepherds and their Dogs.

CHAPTER XIII. Farther Feasting. Party sent to the Settlements. Author accompanies it. Objects of sending the Party ahead. News respecting Rowland and his Companions. Encounter with Mexican Muleteers. Their Fright at our Approach. Farther Information in relation to Howland. Manuel sent back. Suspicious Horsemen seen. Arrival at Anton Chico. Consternation of the Inhabitants. Scanty Raiment of the Women. Confidence restored. Description of Anton Chico. Scantiness of the Furniture. A Dinner under Cover. Start for San Miguel. Compelled to return. A Night at Anton Chico. Bad Colds, with worse Coughs to match. A suspicious Visitor. Report that we were to be arrested. Start again from Anton Chico. Valuables concealed. Arrival at Cuesta. Commotion in the Village. Our Party surrounded by Mexican Troops. Apparent Frankness of their Leader, Dimasio Salezar. Our Arms taken from us. Consultation of Salezar and his Officers. We are formed in Line and searched. Mexican Duplicity. A trying Scene. Prompt Interference of Vigil in saving our Lives. We are marched towards San Miguel. Kindness of the Women. Don Jesus, and his Attempt to tie us. Description of our Guard. Puertecito. More of the Women. Arrival at San Miguel. Meanness of the Alcalde and Kindness of the Priest. Our first Night in Prison.

CHAPTER XIV. Ordered to march towards Santa Fe. Departure from San Miguel. Gloomy Anticipations. Our Guard increased. A Present from a Woman. Meet with a Party of Mexican Troops. Brutality of their Leader. Lewis, Van Ness, and Fitzgerald tied with Cords. Description of Don Jesus. Large Bodies of Troops passed. Their miserable Appointments. Our first Interview with Governor Armijo. His Reception. Conduct of Lewis. We are ordered back to San Miguel. Armijo's last Command. Carlos seen. First Appearance upon a Donkey. Antics of the Animal. A heavy night Shower. Once more at San Miguel. Barbarous Execution of one of our Comrades. We are ordered before the Governor. An exciting Trial. Rowland condemned to Die. Cruel Mode of Execution. Noble Conduct of Howland. Kindness of a young Priest. Reflections upon our Situation. Departure of Mexican Troops for Anton Chico. News of Colonel Cooke and his Men. Plans of Armijo. Particulars of the Capture of Howland. Description of Manuel Pino. News of the Capture of our Friends at Anton Chico. Great Rejoicings at San Miguel.

CHAPTER XV. New Quarters. Our Party taken before Armijo. Reception by that Functionary. His bombastic Account of the Soldiers of New Mexico. Again taken to Prison. Appearance of Armijo. Description of our Prison. Overrun with Chinches. The Family next Door. The Zapatero's Wife. A singular Custom. The Senora Francisca abandons her Paint. Dress of the Females of New Mexico. Its Scantiness. Freaks of Fashion. Description of the Reboso and Mantilla. Beauties of the Women of Mexico. Kindness of the Girls of San Miguel. Colonel Cooke's Men marched through San Miguel. Lieutenant Lubbock's Account of the Surrender. Agency of Lewis in the Affair Change of Quarters. Prison Occupations. Manner of passing our Time. Chances of an Escape canvassed. Arrival of Caravans from the United States. We are not permitted Conversation with our Countrymen. A seasonable Supply of Luxuries. The Author assured of his personal Release. A Mexican Loafer. Tomas Bustamente Employ him as our principal Agent. Thomas Rowland His Release from Arrest. Bustamente sent on a Mission to Lewis. Its unsuccessful Result. Thoughts upon Pipes. Bustamente's Trickery found out. Confidence lost in the Man. Come to the Conclusion that the Mexicans will bear watching.

CHAPTER XVI. Arrival of a Party of our Companions as Prisoners. Great Excitement in San Miguel. Recognition of our Friends, and their Departure. Don Antonio Baca. Attachment of one of his Daughters for a Texan Prisoner. Old Paint Caldwell and Nine of his Men brought in Prisoners. Still greater Excitement in San Miguel. The Patron Saint brought from his Niche in the Church. A Mexican Procession. A funny Figure. Programme of the Procession. An old Priest with queer Spectacles. A Pair of Musicians. More of San Miguel, the Patron Saint. End of the Pro cession. Startling Information. Bustamente informs us that all our Comrades have been taken Prisoners. Great Rejoicing in San Miguel. General McLeod and other Texans brought into the Plaza. Mr. Falconer. Arrival of all the Prisoners. Dreadful Appearance of the Texans. Lewis arrives. News that the Author is to be liberated. Division of the Spoils. Agency of Lewis in the Transaction. A Visit from Lewis. More of his Treachery and Rascality. His Departure for Santa Fe. A veritable History of Don Manuel Armijo, from his Youth upward, being a short but faithful Narrative of his thieving, gambling, assassinating, and other base Acts and Propensities.

CHAPTER XVII. Unrealized Hopes. A Brood of unhatched Chickens. We are quartered with our Companions. Arrival of Old Paint. Joy at seeing the Veteran. Another Meeting with Friends. Stories of Suffering. Liberated Prisoners again confined. Armijo and Lewis. Departure for the City of Mexico. A long and gloomy March before us. The Brute Salezar in Command. Bustamente and the Women of San Miguel. Causes of the Failure of the Santa Fe Expedition. Arrival at a deserted Mission. Sufferings of the Prisoners from Cold. More of Salezar's Brutalities. The dreary March continued. Arrival at Pino's Rancho. Farther Sufferings. A cold Camping-ground. Hard Fare. Frostbitten Feet. Horrible Threat of Salezar. San Domingo. Kindness of the Women. San Felipe. First Sight of the Rio Grande. Algodones. A Second Black Hole of Calcutta. Arrival at the Indian Village of Sandia. A singular Rite. Description of the Inhabitants. Alameda Scene in an Oven. Misery makes us acquainted with strange Bedfellows. Sufferings on the Increase. Bottoms of the Rio Grande; their Fertility. Albuquerque in Sight. Herons and Wild Geese. A dashing Mexican Horseman. Lieutenant Hornsby abducted. Arrival at Albuquerque. The Family of Armijo. Farther Kindness of the Women. General Pike's Journal. The Pretty Girl of Albuquerque.

CHAPTER XVIII. Los Placeres. Another dark Leaf in Salezar's Character. Women and Watermelons. Reappearance of Lieutenant Hornsby. His singular Story of Adventure. The dashing Horseman and his gentle and generous Wife. Arrival at Valencia. Farther Sufferings of the Prisoners. Kindness of an old Woman. Death of Ernest. An American Traveller. Cruel Murder of McAllister. Its Effect upon the Prisoners. Casa Colorada. A comfortable Camp. Appearance of the Valley of the Rio Grande. Uses of the Cotton-wood. Salezar and the Alcaldes. The Mexican Button Market. Straits to which the Prisoners were driven. A Story of Stump. Magoffin's Wagons passed. American Drivers. Not allowed to hold Converse with them. Arrival at Joya. A Fandango. Salezar Drunk. Conduct of the American Drivers on the Occasion. Parrida. Crossing the Rio Grande. Arrival at Socorro. A short Rest allowed. Character of the Inhabitants. A Party of Apaches. Anecdote of the Priest of Socorro. Head Chief of the Apaches. His dignified Bearing. Obsequiousness of Salezar. Bosque de los Apaches. Recrossing the Rio Grande. The Camp of Fray Cristobal. A Snow-storm at Night. Appearance of the Prisoners by Daylight. Colds and Coughs.

VOL. II.

CHAPTER I. Departure from Fray Cristobal. A broken Gourd. Cold and dreary night March. Encounter with a Regiment of Dragoons. Wild and picturesque night Scenes. Southern Women in a Northern Climate. News of Colonel Cooke's Party. Sufferings upon the Dead Man's Journey, or Journey of Death. A morning Halt. The Lake of Death. Startling Reports. Murder of Golpin. A short night Halt. Farther Sufferings. Sleep impossible. Another gloomy night March. Salezar and his comfortable Quarters. Wild roadside Scenes. Sufferings on the increase. Another cruel Murder. Death of Griffith. Our Feelings on the Occasion. Once more on the Rio Grande. The Journey of Death passed. Appearance of the Prisoners. Food and Sleep. A singular Incident. Easier learning to Swear than Pray in a Language. Farther Inhumanities. Threat of Salezar to search the Prisoners. Trick to outwit him. A Batch of valuable Bread. More of Salezar's Rascality. A sunset Scene. Death of Gates. Gross Inhumanity of a Mexican. Dreary Passage of the Rio Grande. Salezar's last Command. Arrival at El Paso. Old Friends seen. Find ourselves in more humane Hands. General Elias. Our hospitable Treatment by him. Captain Ochoa. Sumptuous Living. Salezar in Disgrace.

CHAPTER II. Ramon Ortiz, the young Cura of El Paso. His Benevolence. A pleasant Ride with the Cura. Description of El Paso. Its irrigating Canals, Streets, and Fruits. Residence of Ortiz. Farther Acts of his Kindness. A comfortable Change of Linen. An Opportunity to vex Salezar improved. Last Encounter with that Miscreant. Arrival of a Courier from Mexico. Departure from El Paso. Hospitality of the Inhabitants. Parting with Ortiz. Inquiries respecting General Pike. A Camp without Water. Ochoa's Attention to our Wants. Description of our Escort and Procession. Mexican Carts and Mexican Character. Opposition of the Inhabitants to Improvements. Another dry Camp. Arrival at the Diamond of the Desert, a noted Spring. A Rest. Difficult Passage of the Sand Mountains. Appearance of the Country. A travelling Stone: its strange History. Superstitions of the Mexicans. The Well of the Star. Poor and sandy Country. Appearance of the Texan Prisoners. Strange Variety of Costume. Laughing at Misery.

CHAPTER III. A singular Hot Spring. Medicinal Properties of the Waters. Doing our Washing. Carazal. Appearance of the Town. Dr. Whittaker in Business. Charley Tirrell, the Delaware. A strange Contract. Kirker, and the Stories told of him. Captain Spybuck killed by Apaches. More of Kirker. Arrival of the Senora Ochoa, and her Style of Travelling. Opportunity to Escape unimproved. A Mountain Spring. Laguna Encinillos. Desolate Appearance of the Country. Inroads of the Apaches. Their Prowess and Daring. Increase of the Tribe. Visiters from Chihuahua. Hospitality and the Jesuits' Hospital. Situation of Chihuahua. Mines in the Vicinity. Governor Cond. Excitement of the Inhabitants. The Military of Chihuahua. Entrance to the City. Carcel de Ciudad. The Women of Chihuahua. The Plaza. Description of the Cathedral. The Presidio. Jesuits' Hospital. Salon los Distinguidos. Names upon the Walls. Description of the Hospital. Apache Prisoners. Hidalgo, with a short Account of the first Mexican Revolution, and the Death of that celebrated Leader.

CHAPTER IV. The old Jesuits' Hospital of Chihuahua. American Visitors. Asked for the Particulars of my own Death. A stealthy Interview. Dr. Jennison. Clean Beds. A sumptuous English Breakfast. Prisoner in the adjoining Dungeon. A Meeting. The Mystery unveiled. Singular Trial. Testimony of General McLeod and Messrs. Van Ness and Navarro. A Release from Chains. An excellent Dinner from the Senora Magoffin. Visiters at our Room. Letters to my Friends. La Luna. Armijo's Letter to Garcia Conde. Implicated with the Leaders of the Expedition. Lewis's probable Agency in the Affair. A Gasconading Editor. Poetic Address to a Horse. Movements of Lewis. A lively little French Woman. Our Treatment by the Foreigners in Mexico. Departure from Chihuahua. Collection of the Inhabitants. Furnished a Horse by a Friend. Difficulty of mounting the Pony. His Feats and Antics. The Mexican Saddle, and its Advantages. El Ojito. Encounter with American Wagoners. Arrival at San Pablo. A Chihuahua Major. Our Accommodations at San Pablo. Practical Knowledge of Entomological Science. Mexican Horse Jockeys. Mr. Falconer mounted again. Saucillo. An Escape agitated. Death of Larrabee. A young Mexican Musician. Santa Rosalia. The Alcalde and his Daughter. A stolen Horse claimed. Military versus Civil Law. Roadside Graves and Crosses. Stories in relation to them.

CHAPTER IV. Arrival at Guajuaquilla. An Invitation. Inhospitable Hospitality. A little Mexican Lawyer. His Self-importance. A disagreeable Night. Our Companions fare better. Again on the Road. Rejoicing at Guajuaquilla. Tricks of a Wag. Amusing Anecdote. Montezuma's Brother. Arrival at El Rio Florido. General Pike. The Hacienda of La Noria. Its former Wealth and present Condition. Inroads of the Apaches and Camanches. A young Irishman. Visited by pretty Girls. A well-informed Mexican Lady. Musical Soiree and Dancing. Change of Scene. Arrival at Cerro Gordo, in the State of Durango. Our new Commander, Colonel Velasco, pointed out to us. His sinister Appearance. Visited by a French Woman. A Fandango and Cock-fight. Departure from Cerro Gordo. A general Turn-out of the Inhabitants. Suspicions in relation to Ochoa's Integrity. Our new Guard of Dragoons. Their Treatment of the Prisoners. Honourable Conduct of Ochoa. A roadside Camp. Colonel Velasco's Character begins to develope itself. Excellent Provisions provided. Large Droves of Horses passed. An immense Hacienda. Former Wealth of the Proprietress. Condition of the Peons, or Working Classes of Mexico. Farther Insight into the Character of Velasco. The Texan Officers allowed their Parole.

CHAPTER VI. Arrival at El Gallo, or The Cock. Singular Names for Towns. A rich Silver Mine. Scenes at a Fandango. The Well of El Gallo. Arrival at Dolores. Guadaloupe. The Prisoners reach Cuencame. A small Party of us quartered at the House of a Castilian. Hospitable Treatment. Strange Superstition in relation to a Statue. Gullibility of the Poorer Classes. We are turned over to a new Guard. Selling a Watch. La Senorita Juana. Colonel Velasco takes leave of the Prisoners. Captain Roblado. Story in relation to him. Superiority of the Bread of Cuencame. Our Departure. Hacienda of Juan Perez. Roblado, and his Treatment of an Alcalde. A tedious March. Arrival at San Sebastian. Frightened Girls and wounded Dogs. Freaks and Endurance of the genus Donkey. Arrival at Saenea. Picturesque Situation of the Town. The Maguey Plant; its Uses and Abuses. One Drink of Pulque sufficient. A Gang of Involuntary Volunteers. Mode of Recruiting for the Mexican Army. Rancho Grande. Decay in Mexico. An American Traveller. Arrival at Fresnillo. The Mines in the Vicinity. Meeting with an Englishman. The Tienda del Goto. Stories and Egg-nog. More Involuntary Volunteers. A Stage-coach, and Thoughts of Home. La Caleta. First Appearance of Small-pox among the Texans.

CHAPTER VII. Approach to Zacatecas. Tedious mountain March. Picturesque View. First Sight of Zacatecas. Its singular Situation. Specimen of Roblado's Vanity. Entrance into Zacatecas. Character of the Inhabitants. Passage through the City. Arrival at a deserted Mining House. Miserable Quarters. Permission obtained to visit the City. Inquisitive Urchins. Arrival at an Irish Restaurat. A sumptuous Breakfast. Visit to a New York Gentleman. A Stroll through Zacatecas. Dinner at the Restaurat. Invitation to another Dinner. A goodly Company. Painting of Washington. A pleasant Evening in Perspective. Unrealized Hopes. Again at our old Quarters at the Mining House. Mr. Falconer in Trouble. Mexican Justice. Dr. Whittaker's Mode of getting rid of a troublesome Sentinel. Subscription raised for the Prisoners. Liberality of a Mexican Lawyer. Departure from Zacatecas. Convent of Guadalupe. Santa Anna, and his Fight with the Zacatecans. Sack of the City. Refugio. Arrival at Ojo Caliente. A Bathing Scene. Customs of the Mexican Women, and their Fondness for Swimming. El Carro. Arrival at Salina. A Kentucky Circus Proprietor. His Adventure with Roblado. The Mexican House of Entertainment, or Meson. The Foreigner meets with but poor Fare. Modes of living, and Customs of the Lower Orders of Mexico.

CHAPTER VIII. Departure from Salina. Last Speech of the Kentucky Circus Proprietor. His Wishes in relation to Roblado. Arrival at Espiritu Santo. Pass a pleasant Evening. A Contrast. La Parada. Wild mountain Scenery. The Organo. A picturesque View. First Sight of San Luis Potosi. A beautiful Valley. Innumerable Wells. Large Prickly Pears. The Peruvian Tree. Our Approach to San Luis heralded. Arrival within the City. Beauty of the Women. Description of San Luis. Its Churches, Convents, and public Buildings. Convent of the Augustine Friars. Benevolence of the Brotherhood. Wants of the Sick provided for. An evening Stroll through the City. Market Scenes. Encounter with a Company of Equestrians. A droll Specimen of the Yankee Genus. Old Hundred in San Luis. Return to the Convent. Visited by the Foreigners. Our Yankee Wag and his Stories. Subscription for the Prisoners raised. Allowed our Parole. An interesting Scotch Lady. Visit to the Circus. Appearance of the Audience. An Invitation to Supper. Find ourselves in the wrong House. Apologies unnecessary. Supper at last. An Opportunity to write to my Friends improved. Departure from San Luis. A new Guard and new Commander. An interesting Incident. Las Pilas. Arrival at El Jaral. Anecdote of General Mina. Wealth of the Proprietor. A singular Funeral Procession. A Hog on Horseback. Description of the Arrieros of Mexico.

CHAPTER IX. A Night at San Felipe. Meeting with one of Mina's Soldiers. Santa Anna, and the Estimation in which he is held by his Countrymen. San Juan de los Llanos. Sickness and Suffering. Tedious Mountain March. Picturesque Scenery. Arparos; its romantic Situation. Arrival at Silao. An American Physician. Kindness of an English Gentleman and his Lady. Approach to Guanajuato. Singular Entry. Laughable Scenes. Arrival within the City. Visits from the Foreigners. Fitzgerald and others taken to the Hospital. Liberal Contributions. Opportunity to escape. Departure from Guanajuato. Singular Location of the City. La Puerta. Arrival at Salamanca. System of Recruiting Volunteers. Celaya. Generous Conduct of Cortazar. Sunday at Celaya. The Cathedral. Singular Customs of the Indians. Cock-fighting at the Theatre. El Campanero de San Pablo. A Spanish Play. Lady Smokers. Departure from Celaya. Fertility of the Baxio. Calera. An early Morning March. Distant View of Queretaro. Arrival within the City. Singular Currency and amusing Anecdote. Soap a legal Tender. A Stroll through Queretaro. American Prisoners. Spanish System of Shaving. Texans Stoned in the Market-place. A Mexican Restaurat. Adventure with a Friar. Return to our Quarters.

CHAPTER X. Departure from Queretaro. A stupendous Aqueduct. View of Queretaro from a Mountain Summit. Number and Magnificence of its Churches. Meeting with Englishmen. News that Colonel Cooke's Party were in Chains. The Diligence. Letter from Mr. Lumsden. Liberation of Frank Combs. Arrival at San Juan del Rio. Escape of two of our Companions. They are retaken and punished. The Indian Village of Tula. Strange Celebration. Queer Characters. Crackers and Sky-rockets. Approach to the City of Mexico. Speculations as to our future Lot. Mr. Navarro separated from his Companions. Route altered. Quien Sabe? Kindness of the Indian Women. Arrival at the old Palace of San Cristobal. The Texans locked within its gloomy Walls. Visited by Mr. Lumsden and other Americans. A joyful Meeting. Prospects of Release. Description of San Cristobal. Release of Falconer and Van Ness. Visited by Members of the United States Legation. Difference in the Policy of the United States and English Governments. Cause of Mr. Falconer's Release. Another Visit from the Americans. File of American Papers. A Letter from Chihuahua, and its Effects. Gloomy Presentiments. Our Men supplied with Clothing and Blankets. Celebration in Honour of Santa Anna's Leg. Supplies cut off. Sufferings on the Increase. Nothing to Eat. Resorts of the Texans to obtain Food. Singular Tribunals, with the Results. A Humorous Witness. Wild Revel in San Cristobal.

CHAPTER XI.  Supply of Money received. Our Sick examined. Visited by a large Party of Americans from the City. Hopes of Liberation still offered. Reflections as to the Nature of my Case. Departure from San Cristobal. Start for the City of Mexico upon Asses. The easy Gait of the genus Donkey. Arrival at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Flimsy Imposture which caused its Erection. Anecdote from Latrobe. Nuestra Senora de los Remedios. Mexican Beggars. Tiresome Travel across the Plains. The Garita. Mexico, as seen in the Distance. Arrival within the City. Forlorn appearance of the Texans. Commiseration of the Women. Anecdote of Major Bennett. Arrival at the Hospital of San Lazaro. Hideous appearance of the Inmates. A dreary Night. Visited by the Hospital Physician. His Prescriptions. Description of San Lazaro and the unfortunate Lazarinos. Speculations as regards the Leprosy. Happiness among the Lepers. New Sports and Dances. We are visited by Mr. Mayer and other Americans. Our Food at San Lazaro. Kindness of the Mexicans in their Hospitals. Smuggled Food. Visits of the Physician. Removed to other Quarters. Worse and Worse. Find our Room overrun with Chinches. Our Friends gain Access by Bribery. Departure of Mr. Lumsden and Friends for the United States. Thoughts of an Escape.

CHAPTER XII. Taken ill with the Small-pox. Washington's Birthday. A Patriotic American. An excellent Dinner. More of the Small-pox. Ordered to move our Quarters. Once more among the Lepers of San Lazaro. Eight of our Companions marched to Santiago. Philosophy in Chains. The Irons nothing after one gets used to them. Fresh Air and Exercise. Determination to forego them. System of Anointing in San Lazaro. Anecdote of Lieutenant Burgess. Visit from Mr. Lawrence. His Departure for the United States. Death of an unfortunate Leper. A midnight Funeral in San Lazaro. Its imposing yet gloomy Character. Mass in the Church of San Lazaro. Decorations of the Establishment. Disgusting Figure of St. Lazarus. A Procession and a Present. Don Antonio. The Fruits of Mexico. A File of American Newspapers. Present from Mr. Ellis. Visited by Mr. Falconer. Beauties of the Vicar of Wakefield. Death of another Leper. Five of our Companions marched to Santiago. Preparations for a Celebration. The 11th of March in San Lazaro. The Hospital visited by Throngs. Compelled to receive Alms. Dinner provided for us by a Party of Ladies. Take an Account of Stock. Strange Present from a Mexican Lady. Charles O'Malley in San Lazaro. Another Celebration among the Lepers. Fondness of the Mexicans for Flowers and Ornaments. A dolorous Chant. The Celebration closes with a Dance. Wild Revels of the Lepers.

CHAPTER XIII. Another Dance in San Lazaro. Mexican Improvisatores. Accident to a couple of Dancers. Fondness of the Mexicans for Music. American Visitors. An agreeable Afternoon passed. Good Friday, and a better Dinner. Fasts preferable to Feasts. A drunken Lazarino. Touching Incident. Visits of our Friends prohibited. Speculations as to the different Modes of escaping from San Lazaro. Several Plans agitated. The Foreigners once more permitted to visit us. News of the Appearance of an American Fleet upon the Mexican Coast. Advised not to attempt an Escape. A severe Epidemic in San Lazaro. Horrible Colds and worse Coughs. Death of another Leper. A second midnight Funeral. Rarity of the Atmosphere of Mexico. A regular Uproar in San Lazaro. Jose Maria and his inhuman and vicious Conduct. Mexican Gamblers. Farther Annoyances from Jose Maria. An early morning Visit. Prospects of Release. Santa Anna's Reasons for not liberating us immediately. General Thompson at Vera Cruz. Santa Anna anxious to shuffle out of a Dilemma. Bright Anticipations of being once more at Liberty. More American Visiters. Arrival of General Thompson in Mexico. The Annoyance of Suspense. A File of American Papers. Visit of General Thompson to San Lazaro. Letters from Friends. A Visit from Mr. Perrin. Prospects of Liberation again clouded. An Opportunity of Escape thrown in my Way. Determination to improve it. Anxiously await the arrival of Assistance from without.

CHAPTER XIV. Hours of Expectation. One of the Santiago Prisoners brought to San Lazaro, sick with the Small-pox. Disappointed Hopes. Arrival of a Guard of Soldiers at San Lazaro. Mysterious Conduct of the Commander. Ordered to prepare for Departure. A vile Litter produced. Refusal to enter it. Leave San Lazaro. Farewells of the Texans and Adios of the Lepers. Gloomy and mysterious night March. Interior of the City of Mexico. Stared at by the Populace. A Coach ordered. Misery likes Company. Dogs in the Outskirts of Mexico. Arrive at our Destination. Farther Uncertainty. Ushered into the Presence of Women. The Mystery unravelled. Find myself in Santiago, and among Friends. Ordered to make Choice of a Partner in Chains. Select Major Bennett. First Appearance in Fetters. Congratulations of my Friends on the Occasion. Major Bennett quotes Scripture again. Determination to escape. Santa Anna's Motives in the Removal to San Lazaro. Action of the Mexican and United States Governments in relation to the American Prisoners. Consider the Chances of Liberation as hopeless as ever. Strange Conduct of Santa Anna. No Difficulty in shaking off the Irons. The Secrets of our Prison-house." Character of the old Commandante of Santiago. Texan Tricks upon a Mexican Blacksmith. The Blacksmith and Santa Anna in Converse. Description of Santiago, and Chances of an Escape. The Texans going out to labour in the Streets. More Play than Work.

CHAPTER XV. Fare of the Texans in Santiago. Their Companions at Puebla not as well treated. The Latter compelled to work and associate with Mexican Malefactors. Anecdote of the Old Commandante of Santiago. The Texans achieve a decided Victory over their Oppressor. The Puebla Prisoners at their Tricks. Attending Mass in Chains. Mad Pranks of the Texans in Church. Additional Ceremonies ingrafted upon the Catholic Ritual. The Reader taken back to Santiago. Foreign Visitors. Farther Thoughts of escaping. Action of General Thompson in my Behalf. The Foreign Policy of the United States Its Weakness and Inefficiency. Santa Anna Laughing in his Sleeve. Plan to bribe our Guard at Santiago. Evening Amusements of the Prisoners. Major Bennett and his Bible. Agreeable Soirees. Character of the Anglo-Saxon Race under Misfortune. Anticipation worse than Reality. The Texans taken to their Morning Work. Reasons for Slighting the Author. More Visiters at Santiago. Advised to defer an Escape. Preparations for celebrating the Anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto. The Texans at their Work. Experiments as to the smallest possible Amount of Labour a Man can perform when he exerts himself. The Mexicans Outwitted. Decorations of our Room. San Jacinto and Patriotism. The Texans at their Celebration. Close of the Anniversary.

CHAPTER XVI. Intelligence of immediate Release. Its Effect. Close of the Celebration. Night Visitors at Santiago. Arrival of Mr. Ellis with an Order for our Release. The old Blacksmith again. His Services dispensed with. Once more free from Chains. Leave Santiago and Imprisonment. Cheers of the Texans at our Departure. Congratulations of the young Mexican Officers. Another night Ride through Mexico. Encounter with a religious Procession. Arrival at the United States Legation. The Gran Sociedad. Comfortable Quarters. Sleep impossible. Change of Circumstances. The Watchwords of Mexico. Encounter with a Sentinel. Early Morn in Mexico. Strange Cries. Carbon. Appearance of the Streets. Picture of morning Life in Mexico. Change of Wardrobe. Visit to a French Barber. A Shearing and Shaving Operation. Improvement in personal Appearance. Beggars in front of a Church. Description of the wretched Throng. Return to the Gran Sociedad. A sumptuous Breakfast. Visit to the British Minister, Mr. Pakenham. Once more in Santiago. Mexican Girls. Visit to our old Quarters at San Lazaro. Bribing a Sentinel. Meeting with the Texans and Lepers. Call at the Dwelling of a Mexican Lady, an old Friend. Her musical Attainments. Anecdote of her Spirit and Patriotism.

CHAPTER XVII. An early Morning Walk. Beggars at their Work. The Plaza Mayor. The Cathedral and Stone of the Calendar. Strange Belief. Interior of the Cathedral. Its Appearance. Filthy State of the Establishment. Agency of a Pair of new Boots in preventing an Examination of the Cathedral. Shops of the Portales. The Streets of Mexico. Another Visit to Santiago. The True Blue. More of Lieutenant Hull. Encounter with Major Howard. His Disguise. Particulars of the daring Escape of Captain Hudson and Major Howard. The Italian Opera. Castellan. Another Encounter with Major Howard. Farther Particulars of his Escape. Temerity of Captain Hudson. Mexican Pickpockets. Their Dexterity. Mexican Modes of Salutation. Cordiality of Greeting. Anecdote of a Meeting with a fair Mexican. The Mystery solved. An excellent Trait in Mexican Character. Hospitality of the Lower and Middle Classes. Their Benevolence towards the Sick. The present Priesthood in Mexico. Domestic Relations of the Padres. Influence of the Priests. Their Reluctance in resigning Power.

CHAPTER XVIII. Mode of passing our Time. Herr Cline. Mexico by Moonlight. Note from Madame Calderon. Rambles over Mexico. A Dance. The Jarabe. Change of Scene. A murdered Soldier. Touching Instance of Grief. More Moonlight. Quien Vive? A staggering Padre. Release of Americans through the Exertions of General Thompson. Visit to Tacubaya. Cruel and mysterious Murder of Egerton and his Mistress. Visit to the Acordada. A Show-case of Murder. Gloomy Entrance to the Acordada. Some Description of the Interior. Release of a Female Prisoner. Mr. Navarro. Story of his Wrongs. Robbery and Crime in the Acordada. Texan Prisoners within its dreary Walls. Take Leave of Mr. Navarro. Farther Description of the Prison. Encounter with Dutch Broom Girls. An old Acquaintance in the Broom Line. The Balladmongers badly patronised. Evangelistas, or Letter-writers of Mexico. Their singular Calling. Stock in Trade of the Evangelista. Mexican Coaches and Mexican Coachmen. Another Visit to Santiago. More of the Mexican Coachmen.

CHAPTER XIX. The Alameda. Visit to that noted Pleasure-ground. A Yankee Livery stable-keeper in Mexico. A Shower. Paseo Nuevo. Family Parties in their Carriages. Mexican Cavaliers on Horseback. Singular Gait of their Steeds. Manner of training them. Race with a Shower. Santa Anna. His Courtesy, Policy, Power, and ambitious Projects. Reasons for the Decline of the Mexican Republic. Our last Night in Mexico. More of Captain Hudson. Santa Anna's Benevolence! Take leave of our Friends. San Lazaro again. Mexican Escort. Mexico from the Mountain Sides. Arrival at a Breakfast-House. Arms and Equipments of our Party. A Yankee Driver. Roadside Crosses and Graves. Stories of Robbers. Robbing the Stages reduced to a System. Senor Garcia and the Ladrones. Rio Frio. Mexican Dogs. Cholula in the Distance. Arrival at Puebla. Visit to the Texan Prisoners at the Presidio. Their unfortunate Condition. The Cathedral of Puebla. Its great Riches. Anecdote of the Angels. Superstition from which Puebla received its Name. In Bed and Asleep.

CHAPTER XX. Preparations for Departure. High Words with a Mexican Stage-agent. A Victory. A Scotch Traveller. No Room for another Passenger. Leave the City of the Angels. Approach of an Escort. Appearance of the Dragoons Arrival at El Final. Roadside Graves. Change of Horses. A wild Mexican Steed and his Antics. A rapid Start. A noted Stand for Robbers. Another doughty Escort. The Mai Pais and Cerro de Pizarro. Arrival at Perote. Visit to the Texan Prisoners. Their Condition.' A vile-Supper. A French Lady. Another early Start. Coldness of the Mountain Air. A false Alarm. Colder and Colder. Tierra Frias. Arrival at Las Vigas. In want of Refreshments. No hai and Quien sabe again. Wild Mountain Scenery. Volcanic Formations. El Cofre de Perote. Strange Indian Legend. Leave the Region of Lava, Remarkable Change of Scene and Climate. Sudden Transition. Halt at the House of a Mexican Lady. Singularity of her Conduct. La Guerra Rodriguez, Examination of our Passports at the Garita. Arrival at Jalapa.

CHAPTER XXI. The Cracovienne. Large Body of Mexican Troops. Their Inefficiency. Speculations as to the Result of an Invasion of Mexico. The Vomito at Vera Cruz. Determination to remain at Jalapa. The Scotchman we had left at Puebla arrives. Work of the Robbers. Indian Girls from the Tierra Caliente. Picturesque and neat Style of Dressing their Hair. A pleasant Ride. Departure from Jalapa. Description of the Litera. Changing Teams. Mexican Drivers. Puente Nacional. Night Ride through the Hot Country. Residence of Santa Anna. Fireflies. Santa Fe. Number of Dogs in the Vicinity. Singular District. The Gulf of Mexico in Sight. Arrival at Vera Cruz. A Conducta. Sopilotes. The Black Vomit again. Arrival on board the Woodbury. Commodore Marin. Salutes. Under Way. Pleasant Passage. The Balize in Sight. Author's Leave of his Reader.

PREFACE.

A WORD with you, kind reader, before you commence the perusal of the following narrative. The object of the author has been to tell his story in a plain, unvarnished way in the homely, every-day language which is at once understood by all. He will not, at this time, apologize for any errors of omission or any broken links in the principal chain of connexion which may be noticed; he trusts that all such faults will explain themselves in the progress of the narrative, as the difficulties he has had to encounter become apparent.

For the description of the Spanish Missions in the neighbourhood of San Antonio de Bexar, which will be found in the early part of the third chapter, the author is principally indebted to Mr. Falconer, by whom full notes were taken of these old religious establishments. The author also acknowledges his indebtedness to Mr. F. for the names of the several places through which the Santa Fe prisoners passed on their march from San Miguel to the city of Mexico, together with the dates. For dates and events previous to the capture of the expedition he has been obliged to rely upon his own memory, and upon that of such of his companions as he has been able to see and converse with since his return to the United States.

The main facts in the history of Don Manuel Armijo have been obtained from a gentleman who has known that petty tyrant and his career for nearly fifteen years. The author has only added such incidents as came under his personal observation.

In making up the map of the country between the Cross Timbers and the settlements of New Mexico, much information has been obtained from Mr. Gregg, an intelligent merchant who has been for many years engaged in the Santa Fe trade, and also from Albert Pike, Esq., of Arkansas. Both these gentlemen have travelled over the immense prairies, stretching from the western limits of Louisiana and Arkansas to the Rocky Mountains, and both agree with the author in his remarks in relation to Red River. Of course, in the construction of this map, much of what the Yankees term guess work has been resorted to; but it will be found, in the main, correct.

A few of the incidents in the first volume of this work, which appeared, in a series of rough sketches, in the New Orleans Picayune of 1842, have since been stolen from that journal and incorporated with the Narrative of Monsieur Violet, written by Captain Marry at and published in London during the fall of 1843. The author has deemed this exposition necessary, lest some of his readers, unacquainted with the circumstances and who may peruse both books, should suspect him of having poached upon the wondrous tale of Violet. The larceny lies at the door of either the Captain or the Monsieur a matter they must settle between themselves.

Violet's Narrative also contains an attack, directly impeaching the veracity of the author in the account he has given of the murder of Golpin. It may not be deemed a work of supererogation for him simply to state, that this wanton attack is made up of deliberate falsehood. The time, place, and manner of the death of the unfortunate Texan, were precisely as the author has stated them: out of more than one hundred and eighty witnesses of the murder, many are still living to verify his account in every particular.

In speaking of the manners, customs, institutions, and character of the Mexicans, the author has simply related what came under his own observation; he has censured where he considered that reproof should fall, has praised where he deemed commendation due. Should his strictures not meet the approval of the leading men of that country, the blame cannot attach to him; for if the Mexican government, in its wisdom, saw fit to deny a friendly traveller the privilege of viewing aught save the darker shades of life while within the limits of that republic, it certainly cannot upbraid him for painting them in all their deformity. In whatever light a government or an individual may choose to sit for a portrait, it is certainly the duty of every honest artist to give it with scrupulous fidelity.

In commenting upon the weakness and inefficiency of his own government, as regards its external or foreign policy, the author has approached the subject with much reluctance. American born and American at heart, he has always felt a just pride in the achievements of his countrymen, in their firm and untiring opposition to all usurpation and tyranny, and to every infringement upon their liberties. The people of the United States the mass from whom all power emanates although ever ready to sustain their rulers in the protection of the humblest of their countrymen while abroad, are too frequently kept in ignorance of the wrongs they suffer through the inattention of those who are bound to redress every encroachment upon their rights. Were it not that the exposure of errors and abuses is the only means of ensuring their correction, the author would shrink from lifting the curtain which conceals almost the only weak point in the administration of his government. For proof of the correctness of his strictures he has only to refer to every American who has visited Mexico.

The engravings which accompany this work demand a short notice. The scene in the buffalo range the scamper after those huge animals is a truthful picture from the quick and fertile imagination of Chapman. Scenes of a similar nature were of almost daily occurrence while the Santa Fe pioneers were in the buffalo region, and the artist seems to have caught the spirit of the exciting chase. The Incident upon the Prairies is from a design by Casilear, and gives a faithful delineation of a wild and singular race. Both these engravings are from the burin of Messrs. Jordan and Halpin, and need no commendation. The view of Puente Nacional is taken from Ward's work upon Mexico, the diligencia and the litera only added. The City of Guanajuato is from the same work, and gives a faithful view of the place: the author cannot say as much for the appearance of the Texan prisoners. They did not ride thus far into the city, and to attempt to picture them with fidelity would be impossible. The engraving of the Mexican girls is adopted from Nebel, and is given to show the costume and one of the customs of the females of that country.

Another word or two, and the author will throw himself upon the kindness of his reader. His attempt has been to interest and amuse; should it be thought that he has thrown too much levity amid scenes of suffering and of gloom, his excuse must be that he belongs rather to the school of laughing than crying philosophers to a class who would rather see a smile upon the face of melancholy than a tear in the eye of mirth.

CHAPTER I. Objects of the first Texan Santa Fe Expedition. Determination to accompany it. The Western Limits of Texas. Her Claim to the Rio Grande. Colonel Butler's contemplated Expedition to Santa Fe. Causes of its Failure. Preparations for joining the Texans. Departure from New-Orleans. Steam-ship New-York. Captain Wright's Specific against Thirst. Arrival at Galveston. Frank Combs. City of Houston. Stories of old Hunters and Campaigners. Houston Horse Jockeys. Choice of an Animal. Leave Houston for Austin. Ladies on Horseback. Race with a Thunder-shower. Incidents upon the Road. Arrival at Austin. Mr. Falconer. English Travellers. Party to San Antonio made up. Jim the Butcher sent to the Stable. Mexican Mountain Pony. His Mustaches, and Powers of Endurance.

WHAT were the objects of the Santa Fe Expedition? and What induced you to accompany it? are questions which have been so often asked me, that I cannot carry my reader a single mile upon the long journey before us until they are answered. Without preamble or preface, then, I will to the task.

In the early part of April, 1841, I determined upon making a tour of some kind upon the great Western Prairies, induced by the hope of correcting a derangement of health, and by a strong desire to visit regions inhabited only by the roaming Indian, to find new subjects upon which to write, as well as to participate in the wild excitement of buffalo-hunting, and other sports of the border and prairie life.

The determination to take an excursion of this kind once made, my next object was to fix upon the route. The prairies west of St. Louis, the hunting-grounds of the Pawnees and other savage tribes, had been explored by Charles Augustus Murray, and described by his graphic pen; here was no new opening. Again, M. C. Field, one of my assistants in the Picayune, had made the journey to Santa Fe by way of Independence, Missouri, and a series of articles written by him, upon the subject of his adventures, had found favour in the eyes of the public, being much copied into other journals. Here was another beaten and well-known road; yet I determined to traverse it if no other offered.

About the first of May of the same year, a number of young gentlemen of my acquaintance set on foot the project of an excursion to the prairies and buffalogrounds, taking either Fort Towson or Fort Gibson in the route, and roaming through the Osage country and over a part of that section visited by Washington Irving in his foray upon the prairies. While canvassing the chances and merits of a trip of this kind, I met with Major George T. Howard, then in New-Orleans purchasing goods for the Texan Santa Fe Expedition.

Of the character of this enterprise I at once made inquiry. Major Howard informed me that it was commercial in its intentions, the policy of the then President of Texas, General Mirabeau B. Lamar, being to open a direct trade with Santa Fe by a route known to be much nearer than the great Missouri trail. ' To divert this trade was certainly the primary and ostensible object; but that General Lamar had an ulterior intention that of bringing so much of the province of New Mexico as lies upon the eastern or Texan side of the Rio Grande under the protection of his government I did not know until I was upon the march to Santa Fe. He was led to conceive this project by a well-founded belief that nine tenths of the inhabitants were discontented under the Mexican yoke, and anxious to come under the protection of that flag to which they really owed fealty. I say a well-founded belief; the causes which influenced him were assurances from New Mexico positive assurances that the people would hail the coming of an expedition with gladness, and at once declare allegiance to the Texan government.

With the proofs General Lamar had, that such a feeling existed in New Mexico, he could not act otherwise than he did could not do other than give the people of Eastern New Mexico an opportunity to throw off the galling yoke under which they had long groaned. Texas claimed, as her western boundary, the Rio Grande; the inhabitants within that boundary claimed protection of Texas. Was it anything but a duty, then, for the chief magistrate of the latter to afford all its citizens such assistance as was in his power?

Texas claims, as I have just stated, the Rio Grande as her western boundary; yet, so isolated were Santa Fe, and such of the settled portions of New Mexico as were situated on the eastern side of that stream, that the new Republic had never been able to exercise jurisdiction over a people really within her limits. The time had now arrived, so thought the rulers of Texas, when rule should be exercised over the length and breadth of her domain when the citizens of her farthest borders should be brought into the common fold and with the full belief in their readiness and willing ness for the movement, the Texan Santa Fe Expedition was originated. On its arrival at the destined point, should the inhabitants really manifest a disposition to declare their full allegiance to Texas, the flag of the single-star Republic would have been raised on the Government House at Santa Fe; but if not, the Texan commissioners were merely to make such arrangements with the authorities as would best tend to the opening of a trade, and then retire. The idea, which has obtained credence to some extent in the United States, that the first Texan Santa Fe pioneers were but a company of marauders, sent to burn, slay and destroy in a foreign and hostile country, is so absurd as not to require contradiction; the attempt to conquer a province, numbering some one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants within its borders, was a shade too Quixotical to find favour in the eyes of the three hundred and twenty odd pioneers who left Texas, encumbered with wagons, merchandise, and the implements of their different trades and callings. The expedition was un fortunate, and, as a natural consequence, the censorious world has said that it was conceived in unwise policy. In the progress of my narrative, it will be seen that its failure arose from causes purely fortuitous; in a word, that the enterprise had failed and been broken up long before those engaged in it had reached the confines of New Mexico.

The expedition was to leave Austin, the capital of Texas, about the last of May or first of June. The route to be taken had not been determined upon when Major Howard was in New-Orleans, but it was thought that the pioneers would follow up the San Sab a road, from San Antonio to Santa Fe; a route extending in nearly a northwest, and, as was then thought, a direct line. Fearing that there might be a scarcity of water on this trace, the direction was afterward changed. That an enterprise, so purely commercial in its aspect, was intended for a hostile invasion of Mexico, did not. as I have already stated, enter the mind of any one at the time at least not in Texas, where the inhabitants should be best able to judge. That a military force of some three hundred men accompanied the expedition is well known, and it is equally well known that the route across the prairies, whether by the San Saba or the Red River, would lead directly through the very heart of the Camanche and Caygua country inhabited by Indians who are foes alike to both Mexicans and Texans. It cannot be considered very strange, then, that in a country so infested with hostile savages as Texas is, where a man hardly dares go out to catch his horse without a rifle and pair of pistols about him, a military force accompanied this expedition. The number of men was really not larger than that which accompanied the earlier Missouri enterprises; and large as it was, it did not prove sufficient for the purposes intended, many valuable lives being taken, and a large number of horses stolen, by the Indians we encountered on the route. These remarks I have made to counteract assertions put forth by the ignorant few, that the very fact of a military force being sent with the expedition was proof sufficient of its original hostile intentions. They would have had us, forsooth, start off with walking-sticks and umbrellas, and been scalped to a man in order to prove our object pacific. Perhaps their knowledge of the barbarians, through whose territory we were to pass, was of a piece with that of a very worthy agent sent to Texas, some years ago, by the French government. This gentleman planned an excursion after buffalo, directly into the hunting-grounds of the Camanches, to be accompanied only by two of his friends with servants. On being told of the certainty that he would be killed, he confidently remarked that he should carry the flag of France with him the Camanches would never dare insult that!

It was while making inquiries, as to the nature and objects of the Texan expedition, that I first heard of an enterprise somewhat similar, then in contemplation in the United States. A company, under the command of Colonel Pierce M. Butler, formerly governor of South Carolina, and well known as an efficient and gallant officer, was to leave a point high up on Red River for Santa Fe, having for escort a body of United States dragoons. What was the object of this enterprise, whether to counteract the Texans in their attempt to divert the New Mexican trade or otherwise, I am unable to say. It was abandoned, at all events, for the reason that Colonel Butler could not make all his preparations in season to ensure a sufficiency of grass and water upon the prairies; but had it started, I should have made one of the party.

Thus foiled, I finally resolved upon accompanying the Texans. My intentions were, on joining this expedition, to leave it before it should reach Santa Fe, so as in no way to commit myself, and then to make the entire tour of Mexico visiting the cities of Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, and others on the road to the capital. These intentions I made known to all my friends in New-Orleans, not one of whom thought I should in any way compromise myself as an American citizen, or forfeit my right to protection, by the route I proposed pursuing. By a law of Mexico a law of which I must confess myself at the time ignorant a foreigner is prohibited from entering that country through the territory of Texas; but the only punishment for this offence is being