OCR Text |
Show JOURNAL oF A voYAc.a: river to fertilize the plains and fields which bon.lcr its banks on both sides ; where we saw men, women and children of all ages and sexes at the joyful labor which was to crown with rich abundance their future harvest and ensure them plenty for the ensuing year. Those scenes brought to my recollection the bright descriptions given by Savary of the opening of the canals of Egypt. Thu cultivation of the fields was now con1mencing and every thing appeared to give life and gaiety to the surrounding scenery. We crossed the Rio del Norte, a little below the village of Albuquerque where it was 400 yards wide, but not more than three feet deep auJ excellent fording. At father Ambrosio's, was 1hc' only chart we ~aw in the province, that gare the n •ar connection of the sources of the Rjo del Norte and the Rio Coloredo of California, with their ramifications. On our arriving at the next village a drpenJ ency of father Ambrosio, we.: were invited into the house of the commandant; when I entered, I saw a man siuing by the fire reading a book, with blooming chc ·ks, fine complexion and a genius sp·~aking eye, he arose from his scat. It was Robinson! not that Robinson who left 1ny camp, on the head wa~ers of the Rio del Norte, pale, emaciated, with uncmnbc<.l locks and beard of eight n1onths growth, but with fire, unsubc.l ued enterprise aud fortitude. The change was indeed surprbing. I started back and exclaimeJ '' Robinson !" " Y LS; '' " but I do not know you;" I rc· plied ; " but I know you," he exclaimed " I would not be unknown to you here, in this land of tyranny and op· pression ; to avoid all the pains they dare to inflict. Y ct, 1ny friend I grieve to sec you here and thus, for I presume you arc a prisoner." ''I replied no? 1 wear my sword you sec, and all my n1en have their arms, and the moment they dare to ill treat us we will surprise their guards in the night, carry otf some horses and n1akc our way to .L\p· THROUGH THE INTERIOR PROVINCES, &c. 22s pachcs and then set them at defiance." At this moment captain D' Almansa entered and 1 introduced Robinson to him, as Com~anion de Voyage and friend, he having befor~ seen hun at. Santa Fe. He did not appear much surpnsed and received him with a significant smile, as much as to say, I knew this. We then rnarchcd out 10 the place were the soldiers were encamped, not one of whom would recognize him (agreeably to orders,) until I gave them the sign. Then it was a joyful rnceting, as the whole party ~as enth~siastically fond of him. I-Ie gave me the followmg relatwn of his adventures after he Iefit me. '' I marched the first day up the branch on which we " . " were Situated, as you know we had concluded it would be the most proper to follow it to its source and then ,, h ' cross t e mountains west, where we had conceived we : s.hould find_ the Spanish settlements, and at night encamped on Its banks ; the second day I left it a little and :: bore m~re south, an~ was getting up the side of the mountam, when I discovered two indians for whom I "mad e '· t he y were armed W·i th bows and ' arrows and " we re extreme1 y shy of my approach, but after some t' ime :: ~onfidence being somewhat restored; I signified a wisl; ,, 0 go. to Santa Fe, when they pointed due south, down " the .river, I left you on. As I could not believe them " I reiterated the enquiry and received the same r ply. I then concluded that we had been deceived ·md th·lt you " were on th R. d I . ' ' , ,, wa e Io e Norte, Instead of Red river, and ,, s embarrassed whether I should not immediately re .. turn to ap · f .. " pnse you o It, but concluded it to be too late as I was d. d b . . > '' Iscovcre y the Indians, whom if I had not met or some oth I h ld 1 " crs s ou lave continued on and crossed th" · h '' 1.,; mountam on t e waters of the Colo:-cdo "han d de. scended tl Ie"m , unt1·1 f rom thet· r course I should' ave dtscovcrcJ · k · my mtsta c. I thercfort' offered thr>m r r |