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Show eyt ae RENCem ie RAL ee LaySRPae RENE Oe aL ee PO eS ee ee ahd ee a pA RE Ve ee Bk BE HB dO ~ oa ee ry ee es hee pore Pe BA AB LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY Colonel Viscarra and his officers ; his tent was very large and comfortable, oval in shape and very roomy. There were sixteen at the table, all of the service being of silver. This the Americans did not notice particularly in view of the inviting contents, among which te eet aeae ee eeest ee oeee ar oy dt Paks of cakes and delightful chocolate; there were several kinds of Mexican wines, all of which had been brought from Santa Fé purposely for this occasion. In the dusk of the evening a large group of the Mexican Indians came into camp, bearing aloft on their lances the scalps which had been lately taken, and all singing Indian songs; dark figures, with matted hair streaming over their shoulders, uttering the wild notes of their deep-toned choruses, they resembled demons rather than met. reer an Indian would enter the circle and indulge in an ex- : avagant display of grief, beating his forehead and breast and how- oe Pet “ gho~ @ iad oe — vii and then, dashing the scalps to the ground, Cee Onin a Ai ml € manes ta of a departed je ee friend, or relative, he ny along with the others, into the wildest and most 22 Cooke, Gen. Phil ip St. George, Scenes and Adventures in the Army, Pp. 86. ela a — ee eee poe oy} Fo SOUINJSOK) soory oy} SuLInp ysay bl a 7 ee ee ae ee ee Pot oe et ee eee ie a ee ee ee ee ee Pe ee *.* * ° Frenchmen; added to these was the American command of about one hundred and eighty men, hardy veterans in rags, but well armed and equipped for any service; four or five languages were spoken, and to complete the picture was the caballada of more than two thousand horses, mules, and asses (burros), which kept up an incessant braying. The Spaniards and their attendants were in constant motion, throwing the lazo, catching wild mules, and dashing headlong after buffalo which seemed disposed to send representatives to this congress of men and animals of all nations.22 The American battalion was reviewed and drilled for the edifcation of the Mexican officers, who were highly pleased. After the review the American officers visited the Mexican camp, where their motley force was drawn up and paraded. After the parade, the American officers, by invitation, dined with was fried ham; this course was followed by another of various kinds ee ee ee Ce ee tal hate ee oe ee ee Pere - AVR 1 A L eae) Ce * 7 ne ee oe | ae oe Se Se Es es ee ee bel eS ot eTad ee eeOeet ad oe fon @ Se ee re a) - Pree ia et ee hott heer malay ee pers Pee pe -he with a lance and bow and arrows; there were many oY} JO AojLVNb ae ay ted oe uniform, hardly up to the standard as soldiers; several tribes of Indians and Mexicans, much more formidable as warriors, who stood about in groups, along with their horses, each man armed Y}U00}0UIN et “ Bb 24 Ain }Ue QO ae + operas Oe ee sceieret |