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Show [ 23] 94 "zacate" that our a·nimals had consumed, he would not be persuaded to receive one real, exclaiming: "No, seiior, no es vale nada." We made but a short march, and encamped about a mile to the north of San Felippe, among some old cultivated field,; which afforded grazing for our animals. While here, we saw many of the Indians of Santo Domingo, and we endeavored to induce them to bring "zacate" for our mules, but they seemed not to understand us; in fact very few of them understand the Mexican Ian· guage. December 22.-Last night we had a stampede among our animals, and this morning several of them were not to be found; I had lost one mule, and some gentlemen who accompanied me from Valverde had lost three horses and two mules. There was no dol!lbt but that they had been driven off by some ill disposed persons during the night. The rest of our mules were quite wild and difficult to catch. As I wished to try my skill with the "lazo," I gave chase to one of the swiftest. As I have so often been obliged to mention the "lazo," I will now attempt to describe it, and the method of using this weapon. The best "lazos" are made of strips of hide, gene· rally of four strands, which are beautifully plaited; it has at one ei\d an iron ring about an inch in diameter; through this the thong, which is about one-third of an inch thick, is passed to form the noose, which is so adjusted that the ring shall be at the extremity of the noose farthest from the hand. In this way it is grasped by all the fingers of the right hand, which thus serve to keep the noose open. The remainder of the lazo is neatly coiled, and rests on the forefinger of the left hand, while the extremity of the thong is firmly held by the remaining fingers of the same hand. As the thong is between forty and fifty feet in length, one is obliged to swing the noose horizontally until it acquires sufficient centrifugal force to reach the object of aim. The coils on the forefingers now pass off until at the exact moment, when, with a jerk of the left hand, the noose is made to close; then a turn is instantly taken around the pommel of the saddle, (if the person be on horseback,) which saves the rider's being pulled from his seat. In New Mexico there is no one "hidalgo 6 puchero" who is not well skilled in the use of the all-powerful " lazo." . While we were searching for our lost animals, some of the In· d1an~ of Santo Do_mingo warned us not to go to Santa Fe, as the Mex1cans were gomg to kill all the Americans there. We, how· ever, left several men, with directions to continue the search for the lost animals, and proceeded with the intention of encamping on the "Rio de Galisteo." On the road we saw follr coyotls or coyotes, " canis latrans," and made several shots at them, but we were unsuccessful. ~he-p we reached Galisteo creek we found plenty of water, which, although covered with ice, yet that could easily be broken. December 23 .. -We were up before sunrise, and I had my mule saddled and started at a rapid pace. The day was pleasa~t, althoug~ cold. _The snow th_at lay upon the ground seeme,d t_o ~n: crease m quantity as the distance to the city of Santa Fe dimlfi 95 [ 23] ished. At length I ayproached "Cieneguilla," and attempting to save distance by _gomg across a marshy spot of ground, my mule immediately sank mto the treacherous slouglt. As the ice was sufficiently strong to b~ar my weight, I soon g.ot clear of the saddle. I now strove to extncate my m~le; she macle several desperate effor! s, and then seemed to resign herself to· despair. The ice, which had supported her thus far, now offered the greatest impediments to her efforts. I raij back a short distance to a place where I had shortly before seen a Mexican; he had gone. I now returned and took off the saddle and bridle also, lest the fear of the severe bit sho~ld prevent the mule's full e_xertions, and taking holu of the ex~remity of .the lazo, I succeeded In turning her head towards the pomt. where she had entered the quagmire, and soon succeeded in drawmg out. my" mula." For some time she trembled like an aspen leaf wi.th cold and fear, seeming to think the solid ground a dangerous qmcksand. ~ soon overtook ~ Mexican w~o had a bottle of aguardiente whiCh he offered with great politeness . I eagerly accepted hi~ pro~er, for my pantaloons were covered with ice, from the mule navmg sun~ so ·deep as to wet the housings of my saddle. About midday I reached Santa Fe and found alJ th A · th t lk' f · · e mencans ere .a mg o an m_tended Insurrection which had fortunate} been discovered. Sentinels had been placed in every d' t' Y the field pieces and heavy guns had been parked I·n th Ilrec wn, all th' · . e P aza every .I~g was m a state of preparatiOn and every body i 't vigilance. n a s ate of The chief conspirator was Don Tomas Ortiz· he organization of the several detachments and the l arra;ged the onethcom~any was to as.semhle in the church called thea'~p~r att~c~~ ano er ~~ the valley of "Tezuque," north of Santa Fe. roqUia, dead ?f mght, at a signal from the bells of the church t In thhe conspuators were to rush into the streets seize the owedrs, t e sa¥~ the whole body of troops. ' guns an mas- ~~:·;~:~~~~~:lofp;f;e ~~vve~~n ~~' ~.h::J::dB ~~t, ;.~~i :~ ea ;;~::'!:~ d~:~ Decem:ber 24.-Tr.e artillery are bus • k' . ~arch, m order to reinforce Colonel J5 ~a h mg preparations to t e anvil is incessant· caiss d on_IP an; the clanking of ~~; ;~:g~~~~~~:t)~I~~~~~ t::Ju\ ~r-:~~~l~:~::j~l\~~~sE:~l~!~iii:~~~ will be attacked. e wagons oaded With money for the tro thewm. ' a company has been se, nt to warn and ops escort e hear that San Mi I . . ~hole country seemed rff~e a;~ m ad statte of insurrection, and the ::;tars and t · rea Y o tear down th I . ged mou ~ r_Ipes; to tear down the nest of the eagl f e g onous lofty pos~i~~n! of the west. The noble bird looks e d~!~ the ru&Be~ are, bewar~do~e:: throul g~ the puerile attempts to disloJgr~~ _his Smce . . e eag e. 1m . my arnval here, I had a long conversatian with M cr. ~t . |