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Show 2.)0 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE " ed sacred, I will have nothing to do with it." I bowed assent, and I will only add, that the condition was scrupulously adhered to ; as I was bound by every tie of military and national honor ; and let me add gratitude not to abuse his high confidence in the honor of a soldier. He further added that " Robinson being now acknowledged '' as one of ynur pan y, 1 shall withdraw his guard and " con. id l'r lllrn, as under your parole of honor." Thosevarious marks of politeness and friendship, caused me to endeavor to evince to my brother soldier, that we were capable of appreciating his honorable conduct towards us. 9tb March, Monday.-The troops n1arched about ten o'clock. Lt. Malgares and myself accompanied captain D' Almansa, about three miles back on his rout to Santa Fe, to the house of a citizen, where we dined; after wh1ctt we separated. I wrote by the captain to the governor, in French and to father Rubi in English. D' Almansa presented me with his cap and whip, and gave me a letter of recommendation to an officer at Chihuahua. We returned to our old quarters and being joined by our waiters, commenced our route. Passed a village called St. Thomas one 1nile distant hon1 the camp. The camp was formed in an ellipsis, the two long sides presenting a breast work formed of lhe saddl~ and heads of the n1ules, each end of the ellipsis having a small opening to pass and repass at ; in the centre was the commandant's tent. Thus in case of an attack on the camp there were ready formed works to fight fron1. Malgarcs' mode of living, was superior to any thing we have an idea of in our army ; having eight mules loaded with his common camp C'quipage, wines, confcctionary, &c. But this only served to evince the corrup- 1 ion of thf' Spanish discipline, for if a subaltern indulged him, elf with such a quantity of baggage, what would be the ··avakadf' a tending on an army? Doctor Robinson had THROUGH THE INTERIOR PROVINCES, &c ~ -> been called over the river to a small village to sec a sick woman and did not return that night. Distance 12 n1iles. IOtb March, Tuesday.-Marched at eight o'clock and arrived at the village ofSibilleta, passed on the way the vil. Iage of Sabinez on the west side, and X_axalcs, ~nth(; ~anw side. Sibilleta is situated on the east stde and 1s a regular square, appearing like a large mud wall on the outside" the uoors, windows, &c. facing the square, and is the neatest and most regular village I have yet seen ; it is governed by a sergeant at whose quarters I put up. 11th Marcb, Wcdnesday.-Marched at eleven o'clock came 12 miles and encamped, the troops having preceeded us. Lieutenant Malgares not being well, took medicine. The village we staid at last night, being the last, we now entered the wilderness and th<> road became rough, small hills running into the river, making vallies ; but the bottoms appear richer than those more to the north. 12th Marcb, Tbursday.-Marched at seven o'clock, and passed on the west side of the river, the tnountains of Magdalen, the black mountains on the east. Passed the encampment of the caravan, going out with about 15,000 sheep for the other provinces from which they bring back merchandize. This expedition consisted of about 300 men, chiefly citizens escorted by an officer and S.5 or 40 troops; they are collected at Sibilleta and separate there on their return. 'I'hcy go out in February and return in March; a similar expedition goes out in the autumn, during the other parts of the year no citizen travels the road, thL' couriers excepted. At the pass of the Rio del Norte, they meet and exchange packets, when each r eturn to their own province. Met a caravan of 50 men and probably 200 horses, loaded with goods for New~Mexico. I-lalteJ at twelve o'clock and marched at three. Lt. Malgares shewed ll1C the place where he had been in tWO amtirs with th,' |
