| OCR Text |
Show 2 34 lieutenant governor, the Vicar and Allcncastcr a brother of the governor. Malgares, myself and the doctor took up our quarters at the house of capt. --,who was then at Chihuahua; but his lady and sister entertained us in a very elegant and hospitable manner. They began playing cards and continued until late the third day. Malgares who won considerably, would send frequently 15 or 20 dollars from the table to the lady of the house, her sister and others ; and beg their acceptance, in order that the goddess of fortune, might still continue propitious, in this manner he distributed 500 dollars; around this fort were a great number of Appaches, who were on a treaty with the Spaniards. T'hese people appeared to be perfectly independent in their manners, and were the only savages I saw in the Span·sh dominions, whose spirit was not humbled, whose necks were not bowed to the yoke of their invaders. \Vith those people Malgares was extremely popular and I believe he sought popularity with them, and all the common people, for there was no man so poor or so humble, under whose roof he would not enter ; and when he walked out, I have seen him put a handful of dollars in his pocket give them all to the old n1en, women and. children before he returned to his quarters; but to equals he \vas haughty and overbearing. This conduct he pursued through the whole province of New Mexico and Biscay, when at a distance from the seat of government, but I could plainly perceive that he was cautious of his conduct, as he approached the capital. I here left a letter for my sergeant. 24tb Marcb. Tucsday.-Very bad weather. 25tb March, rrcdncsday.-The troops marchcJ, but Lt. Malgares and my men remained. 26th March, Thursday.-Divine service was performed in the morning, in the garrison, at which all the troops attend ed under arms; ar one part of thc:ir mass, TIIROCUH TliE INTERIUll PROVlNCES, &c. they present arms, at another, sink on one knee and rest the muzzle of the gun on the ground, in signification of their submission to their divine n1aster. At one o'clock, we bid adieu to our friendly hostess,. who was one of the finest women I had seen inN ew Spain. At dusk arriveu at a small ponJ made by a spring, which arose in the centre, called the Ogo mall a Ukap, and scen1ed forn1ed by providence to enable the human race, to pass that route as it was the only water within 60 miles, on the route ; here we overtook sergeant Bclardie with the party of Jragoons from Senora and Biscay, who had left us at fort Elisiaira, \\there we had received a new escort. Distance 20 miles. '27tb March, FriJay.-Arrivcd at Can·accll, at twelve o'clock. Distance 28 miles; the road well watered and the situation pleasant. 'The father-in-law of our friend, commanded six or seven years here; when we arrived at the fort, the commandant, Don Pedro Rues Sara1nendc received Robinson and myself, with a cold bow and informed Malgares, that we could repair to the public quarters. To this Malgares indignantly replied, that he should accompany us and turned to go when the cormnandant took him by the arm, n1ade many apologies to hin1 and us, and we at length r eluctantly entered his quarte.rs ; here for the first time, I saw the Gazettes of Mexico, which gave rumors of colonel Burr's conspiracies, the movements of our troops, &c. &c. but which were stateJ in so vague and undefined a manner, as only to create our anxiety without throwing any light on the subject. 28th Marcb, Saturday.-Marchcd at half past three o'clock and arrived at the Wann Springs at sun down; crossed one little fosse on the route. 29tb Marcb, Sunday.--Marched at ten o'clock and continued our route, with but a short halt, until sun down; when we encamped without water. Distance SO miles. |
