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Show SPANISH tempted to prevent an examination of his papers,*®** and believed that he had been sadly ‘‘deceived’’ when the governor very shrewdly forestalled his efforts and secured possession of the notes and papers.**® The governor assured Pike that he was not a prisoner, but the American officer insisted on receiving a certificate that he was obliged to go to Chihuahua. Major Pike and party, after a dinner given by the governor in their honor, left the capital,°°° Pike riding with the governor in his coach drawn by six mules. The military escort °°! was under comcountry, or any other subject which might bring to view a comparison of their local advantages and situations with those of other countries. 498 Pike says that he had understood the doctor had been sent forty-five leagues from Santa Fé under a strong guard, and the haughty and unfriendly reception of the governor induced him to believe that war must have been de- clared, and that if it were known Doctor Robinson accompanied him, he would be treated with great severity. ‘‘I was correct,’’ says Pike, ‘‘in saying he was not attached to my party, for he was only a volunteer, and could not properly be said to be one of my command.’’ 499 Major Pike gave all of his important papers to the several members of his command, and showed his trunk, containing the remainder to Alencastre, who, seemingly satisfied, returned the trunk. Pike then, fearing that his men would become intoxicated, collected his papers from them, fearing that they might lose or give them up. Next morning Governor Alencastre again called for the trunk and Pike learned something of Spanish wit and cunning. 500 Pike gives a short description of Santa Fé as he saw it. He says: ‘“Santa Fé is situated along the banks of a small creek, which comes down from the mountains, and runs west to the Rio del Norte. The length of the town es the creek may be estimated at one mile, and it is but three streets in spr Its appearance from a distance struck my mind with the same effect as a flee of flat-bottomed boats, such as are seen in the spring and fall seasons denn the Ohio river. There are two churches, the magnificence of whose steeples forms a striking contrast to the miserable appearance of the other geo On the north side of the town is the square of soldiers’ houses, one hundre and twenty, or one hundred and forty on each flank. The public square 18 m2 the center of the town, on the north side of which is situated the palace they term it, or government house, with the quarters for guards, &c., the ot 43 is occupied by the clergy, and public officers. In general, the houses pan shed before their front, some of which have a flooring of brick; this ocr : the streets to be very narrow, being, in general, about twenty-five feet. supposed population is four thousand five hundred souls.’’ ie 501 Pike is full of praise for Captains Almanza and Melgares. In his diary he mentions a number of the towns and villages from Santa Fé south. i the rest ‘‘Sibilleta,’’ which he describes as a fine and regular village eis east side of the Rio Grande. Prince ealls this place Cebolleta; he errs. siaticroft says he has found no record of its founding, nor is it mentioned in a mae cal list. This place is now known as La Joya. It was the principal of the colonizers of the Sevilleta de la Joya grant, made to the settlers Spanish government. Pike mentions the fact that at Santo Domingo in the church; : were found rich that there was a fine bridge at San Felipe. by ae ‘ntings a nu At this place 1K Fr. Rubi with whom he became very well acquainted. Fr. Rubi showe ded a statistical table, on which he had in a regular manner taken the whole pro RULE, 1700 TO 1822 469 mand of Captain Antonio Almanza, and the route was by way of La Bajada, Santo Domingo, and thence down the valley of the Rio Grande to Alburquerque and Isleta further on. At this point Lieutenant Melgares, commanding a detachment of dragoons, took charge of the party, conducting them to El Paso, and thence to Chihuahua, where the Americans were treated most courteously by General Saleedo, who insisted, however, on retaining all of Pike’s papers. Pike and his companions were finally sent home through Coahuila and Texas, leaving Chihuahua at the end of the month of April, and reaching Natchidoches in July. Pike was afterwards commissioned a brigadier general and lost his life at the taking of Toronto in 1813. The congress of the United States, through a committee appointed on the 15th of November, 1808, made a report in relation to Pike’s expedition. of New Mexico by villages, beginning at Taos on the northwest, and ending with Valencia on the south; giving their latitude, longitude, population, whether Savages or Spaniards, civilized or barbarous, Christians or Pagans; numbers, name of the nation, when converted, how governed, military force, clergy, Salary, ete., ete., in short a complete geographical and historical sketch of the province. Pike desired was much surprised At Alburquerque, a copy of this but noticed that Captain Almanza at the father having shown it to him. Pike was entertained by Fr. Ambrosio Guerra, who led him into his hall, from thence, after taking some refreshment, into an inner apartment, where he ordered his adopted children of the female sex to appear, when they came in by turns. They were Indians of various nations — Spanish, French, and finally two young girls ‘‘who, from their complexion, I conceived to be English; on perceiving I noticed them,’’ says Pike, ‘‘he ordered the rest to retire, many of whom were beautiful, and directed these two to sit down on the sofa beside me. Thus situated, he told me that they had been taken to the east by the Ietans, passed from one nation to the other until he purchased them (at that time infants) but they could recollect neither names nor language. Concluding they were my country women, he ordered them to embrace me as a mark of their friendship, to which they appeared nothing loath. We then sat down to dinner, which consisted of various dishes, excellent wines, and to crown all, we were waited upon by half a dozen of those beautiful girls, who like Hebe at the feast of the gods, converted our wine into nectar, and with their ambrosial breath shed incense on our cups.’’ : 502 Report of Committee, H. R., December 16, 1808: House of Representatives of the United States, to ‘‘The Committee of the whom was referred the resolution to inquire, Whether any, and if any, what compensation ought to be made to Captain ploring the Zebulon Mississippi M. Pike and his companions, river, in their late expedition for their services in ex- to the sources of the Osage, Arkansaw and La Platte rivers, and in their tour through New Spain: That it appears by the documents accompanying this Report, that Report: the objects of each of the exploring expeditions, together with the a in for executing them were communicated to and approved by the President of : e United States; that the conduct of Captain Pike in each of the expeditions also met with the approbation of the President, and that the information obtained and communicated to the executive on the subjects of his instructions, and te LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY Priamos 468 |