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Show JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE river to fertilize the plains and fields which border its bank!> on both sides ; where we saw men, won1cn 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. The cultivation of the fields was now commencing 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 and excellent fording. At father Ambro• sio's, was the only chart we saw in the province, that gave the near connection of the sources of the Rio del N ortc and the Rio Coloredo of California, with their ramifications\ On our arriving at the next village a dependency of father Arr1brosio, we were invited into the house of the commandant; when I entered, I saw a man sitting by the fire reading a book, with blooming cheeks, fine complexion and a. genius speaking eye, he arose from his seat. It was Robinson! not that Robinson who left my camp, on the head waters of the Rio del N ortc, pale, emaciated, with uncombed locks and beard of eight months growth, but with fire, unsubdued enterprise and fortitude. The change was indeed surprising. I started back and exclaimed " Robinson !" " Y cs ;" " but I do not know you;" I replied ; " 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, my friend I grieve to sec you here and thus, for I presume you arc a prisoner." "I replied no? I wear my sword you sec, and all my men have their arms, and the moment they dare to ill treat us we will ::-;urprise their guards in the night, cnrry off some horses and make our way to Ap .. TIIROUGII THE INTERIOR PROVINCES, &c. 225 paches and then set them at defiance " At th' . , • IS moment ca. ptam D Almansa entered and 1 introduced R o b1' nson to htm, as Com~anion de Voyage and friend, he havin befor~ seen hun at. Santa Fe. He did not appear muc~ surpnsed and received him with a significant smile as much as to say, I knew this. W r then marched ou; to the place wrrP the' soldiers were encamped, not one of whom would r~cognizre, him. (agreeably to orders,) until I gave them the sign. I hen It was a joyful meeting, as the whole party was nthusiastically fond of him H h r . . • c gave me t e lOllowmg relation of his adventures after he left me "I marched the first day up the branch on wh' 1 r • " • IC 1 \\ e " were Situated, as you know we had concluded it would be the most proper to follow it to its source and then " cross th e mountam. s west where we had ' . l " h ' concc1 vet we " s ould find. the Spanish settlements, and at night en- " camped 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 " ~ade ; they were arnled with bows and arrows, and . ere extremely shy of my approach, but after some time " confidence being somewhat restored . I sig·nified a wi'sh' "" to go. to Sa nta Fe, when they pointed ' due south, down " ~he .nver, I left you on. As I could not believe them " reiterated the enquiry and received the same reply. I then concluded that we had been deceived and th·tt " were h . ' c you " on t c Rxo del Norte, instead of Red river and ' was emb. arrassed whether I should not immediately re ' turn to · · f · ' - " I ap~nsc you o It, but concluded it to be too late " as was discovered by the indians, whom if I had no~ " met or some othc· r s I sh ou ld h ave continued on anti crossed the 1 • h << I lountam on t c waters of the Coloreclo ,, han d de. scend e·< . I .t h em, unti· 1 f rom their course I should' ave <.bsco . 1 · . ' Crt' <. my nnstakc. I then)fon.' oili:·red the t . 1n F ' |