teen acres he had realized in one year two thousand one hundred and eighty dollars. This field when I saw it, on the last day of October, was as green as our meadows in June.*

I shall not enter into any particulars as to the great number and variety of mines in the State of Chihuahua, as the subject is too extensive to be treated of in a work like the present. I have, however, collected much information respecting it, which may hereafter be given to the public. At present I will merely say, that the mineral wealth of Chihuahua is not surpassed, if equalled, in variety and extent by any State in the world. Silver is the most abundant; but there is also gold, copper, lead, iron, and tin. Cinnabar is also said to be found; but I cannot speak of it with certainty. Of bituminous coal I saw a fine specimen.

* A late San Francisco paper, in speaking of the introduction of alfalfa into California, where it is known as "Chilian clover," says it is greatly in use in the mining districts of Chili, where the lands are very sterile, and rain is of seldom occurrence. "Natural grasses are, therefore, of scanty growth; and the miners are compelled to rely for the maintenance of their animals upon the alfalfa estates, which lie within the narrow valleys of that mountainous region. The supply would, however, be wholly inadequate, were not the plant so remarkably prolific, and possessed of such extraordinary nutritious properties. With the addition of a little barley, it is found to keep mules in the best working condition; and consequently the owner of one of these alfalfa haciendas is able to draw from his estates a much larger revenue than if cultivated in grain. In its green state, cattle feed upon it with the utmost avidity, and acquire flesh so fast, that it is the practice in Chili to drive herds from the grass pastures of the south, for hundreds of miles, in order to obtain the benefit of its use. The land is prepared for the seed of this plant in the same manner as for clover, it being, in truth, of the same family as the latter."

An idea may be formed of the extent to which mining operations were formerly carried on here from the immense heaps of scoria and dross which lie about the city, and particularly near the bed of the creek, as it is approached from the north. So imperfectly has the silver been extracted from this ore, that a regular business is now carried on in working the scoria over again, which is said to pay.

The high table-land, which forms the larger portion of the State, is not adapted to agriculture; but for grazing and the rearing of large herds of cattle, horses, and sheep, it is unsurpassed. I have heard it stated, that a man who settled near the Casas Grandes River in 1785, took with him four cows and a bull, from which, in the year 1829 he had become possessor of a herd of forty thousand cattle. The vast plains filled with such numbers of cattle resemble the prairies with their herds of buffaloes. The proprietors of the great haciendas used to pride themselves on preserving a uniformity in the color of their cattle, much as some of the nobility do in England at the present day, though on a grander scale; so that one possessed his thousands of purely black cattle, another white, and a third red. But this is now all done away with: the great herds have disappeared, and there is no longer any safety in rearing them, although the incentive to do so is greater, owing to the demand for the California market.

The arable lands are in the valleys leading to the great Sierra Madre, and along the water-courses. They are extremely productive.

Among the peculiarities of this place it is proper

to notice a singular breed of diminutive dogs which are found only here, and are eagerly sought for by strangers who visit the place. How these little creatures originated I was not able to learn, although I made many inquiries. These dogs have not the shape of common lap-dogs, or of the stunted, dwarfish curs, with large bodies and short legs, which are of common occurrence; but they possess the elegant form of a full-grown mastiff, with small heads, and slender and delicate limbs and bodies. The hair is short and fine on their backs, while on the lower part of their bodies it is little more than down. The forehead is remarkably prominent, and the eyes large and full. They are also noted for their sagacity. These dogs are highly prized throughout Mexico, and readily command fifty dollars at the capital. In Chihuahua they bring from five dollars to a doubloon (sixteen dollars) each, according to the purity of the breed. Several were brought home by the gentlemen of the Commission. I have two, which weigh respectively three pounds six ounces and four pounds.*

Many persons mistake these Chihuahua dogs for the misnamed prairie-dog, a little animal of the marmot species, about which so much has been said by all who traverse the prairies. Even intelligent travellers who have not seen both have fallen into this error.t

*The bitch has given birth to young twice since they have been in the United States, which attained a size and weight about four times that of the mother. The form was the same. This result has been noticed by others, who have attempted to introduce the breed into this country.

Lieut. Hardy says, "The surrounding country is filled with rat

holes as well as excavations, made by a very small species of dog, not much larger than a full-grown rat, who, as the traveller passes, comes out to the mouth of the cave, and barks most angrily at the interruption. I endeavored to catch one; but they are too wary, and instantly enter their holes when pursued. They are known in Mexico by the name of Chihuahua dogs."-Travels in Mexico, p. 446. Had the Lieutenant taken the trouble to ask for the Chihuahua dogs when in the city, he would have found them to be the the most gentle and affectionate little creatures, and that instead of living in "caves" or holes, they spent their time chiefly on people's laps. Of the prairie-dog I shall speak hereafter.

CHAPTER XL.

CHIHUAHUA TO THE RIO FLORIDO.

Departure from Chihuahua-Additional escort-Mr. Flotte with his family join us-Bachimba-Santa Cruz-Grist mill-Smelting works-Saucillo-Attack of the Comanches-La Cruz-Las Garzas-Ford the Conchas Santa Rosalia-Its defences erected against the Americans during the war-Ramada-Rio Florido-Guajuquilla-Fertile valleyMonument to our Lady of Guadalupe-Search for meteorites-Hacienda Blanca-Wagon upset in an acequia-Hacienda de Concepcion Curious mass of meteoric iron-Account of meteorites in the vicinity -Hacienda del Rio Florido.

November 1st. The wagons being repaired, and our loss of animals made good by the purchase of additional ones, we were this day enabled to resume our journey. We had added to our party six men, five as an additional guard for our animals, and a blacksmith. General Trias also furnished us with an escort of ten dragoons. Our party was further increased by the addition of Mr. Lewis Flotte (a gentleman to whom I have repeatedly alluded), who, with his wife, a Mexican lady, and eight children, were to accompany us as far as the Rio Grande, or even to the Gulf of Mexico. He had three carriages and four men, all well armed; and, as he had had considerable experience in Indian