Commerce of the Prairies; or, the journal of a Santa Fé Trader, during eight expeditions across the great Western Prairies, and a residence of nearly nine years in Northern Mexico

Front matter

COMMERCE OF THE PRAIRIES OB THE S<»tew*sU <0Æ a Ssnwte #£ ®tf S®0?, DURING EIGHT EXPEDITIONS ACROSS THE GREAT WESTERN PRAIRIES, AND A RESIDENCE OF NEARLY NINE YEARS IN NORTHERN MEXICO. Jllustroteb rait!) Maps ani) (Engtamngs. BY JOSIAH GREGG. IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. I. NEW YORK: HENRY G. LANGLEY, 8 ASTOR HOUSE. LONDON: WILEY AND PUTNAM, 6 WATERLOO PLACE. M DCCC Entered, accordius to the Act of Congress, in the year 1844, by HENRY G. LANGLEY, In the Clerk's office ofthe District Court for th? Southern District of New-York. \V RENE1WCT ,\ CO. strreotypcus and pi i in ters, Ifi Spruce Street. TC. THOMAS C. ROCKHILL, ESQUIRE, OF PHILADELPHIA, WITH SENTIMENTS OF TIIE MOST SINCERE GRATITUDE AND ESTEEM, ®M& Wm& IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY TIIE AUTHOR.

Preface

. In adding another to the list of works which have al ready been published, appearing to bear more or less directly upon the subject matter of these volumes, I am aware that my labors make their appeal to the public under serious disadvantages. Topics which have occupied the pens of Irving and Murray and Hoffman, and more recently, of Kendall, the graphic historiographer of the " Texan Santa Fe Expedition," may fairly be supposed to have been so entirely exhausted, that the entrance of a new writer in the lists, whose name is wholly unknown to the republic of letters, and whose pretensions are so humble as mine, may be looked upon as an act of literary hardihood, for which there was neither occasion nor excuse. In view of this ' foregone conclusion,' I trust I may be pardoned for prefacing my literary offering with a few words in its justi fication, — which will afford me an occasion to explain the circumstances that first led to my acquaintance with life upon the Prairies and in Northern Mexico. For some months preceding the year 1831, my health had been gradually declining under a complication of 1* VI

PREFACE.

. chronic diseases, which defied every plan of treatment that the sagacity and science of my medical friends could devise. This morbid condition of my system, which ori ginated in the familiar miseries of dyspepsia and its kindred infirmities, had finally reduced me to such a state, that, for nearly a twelvemonth, I was not only disqualified for any systematic industry, but so debilitated as rarely to be able to extend my walks beyond the narrow precincts of my chamber. In this hopeless condition, my physicians ad vised me to take a trip across the Prairies, and, in the change of air and habits which such an adventure would involve, to seek that health which their science had failed to bestow. I accepted their suggestion, and, without hesi tation, proceeded at once to make the necessary preparations for joining one of these spring Caravans which were annually starting from the United States, for Santa Fe.

The effects of this journey were in the first place to re-establish my health, and, in the second, to beget a pas sion for Prairie life wliich I never expect to survive. At the conclusion of the season which followed my first trip, I became interested as a proprietor in the Santa Fe Trade, and continued to be so, to a greater or less extent, for the eight succeeding years. During the whole of the above periods I crossed tlie Prairies eight different times ; and, with the exception of the time thus spent in travelling to and fro, the greater part of the nine years of which I speak, were passed in Northern Mexico. Having been actively engaged and largely interested in the commerce of that country and across the Prairies, for so long a period, I feel that I have at least had oppor-

PREFACE.

. tunities for observation, upon the subjects of which I have ventured to treat, superior to those enjoyed by any writers who have preceded me. But not even an attempt has before been made to present any full account of the origin of the Santa Fe Trade and modes of conducting it ; nor of the early history and present condition of the people of New Mexico ; nor of the Indian tribes by which the wild and unreclaimed regions of that department are inhabited. I think I may also assure my readers that most of the facts presented in my sketch of the natural history of the Prai ries, and of the Indian tribes who inhabit them, are now published for the first time. As I have not sought to make a treatise upon these subjects, I have not felt compelled, for the purpose of giving my papers symmetry and com pleteness, to enter to any extent upon grounds which have already been occupied by other travellers ; but have con tented myself with presenting such matters and observations as I thought least likely to have come before under the notice of my readers.

I am perfectly sensible, however, that, in the selection of matter, and in the execution of my work, it is very far from being what it should be, and what, in more capable hands, it might have been. I only trust, that, with all its imperfections, it may be found to contain some new and not unimportant facts, which may be thought, in some measure, to justify my appearance for once in the capacity of a book maker ; for which vocation, in all other respects, I am free to confess myself very poorly qualified. This work has been prepared chiefly from a journal which I have been in the habit of keeping from my youth

PREFACE.

. upward, and in which I was careful to preserve memoran da of my observations while engaged in the Santa Fe Trade, — though without the remotest intention of ever ap propriating them to the present purpose. In addition, how ever, I have embraced every opportunity of procuring au thentic information through others, upon such matters as were beyond my own sphere of observation. From materials thus collected I have received much assistance in the preparation of the chapters from the sixth to the fifteenth inclusive, of the first volume, which are chiefly devoted to the early history of New Mexico, and the manners, customs and institutions of its people. For favors thus con ferred, I beg in particular to make my acknowledgments to Elisha Stanley, Esq., and Doctors Samuel B. Hobes and David Waldo, whose names have been long and favorably associated with the Santa Fe Trade.

Though myself cradled and educated upon the Indian border, aud familiar with the Indian character from my infancy, I am yet greatly indebted, for information upon that subject, to many intelligent Indian traders, and others resident upon our border, with whose ample experience I have been frequently favored. Yet, while I recognize my indebtedness to others, I feel bound, in self-defence, to reclaim in a single case, at least, the waifs of my own pen, which have been dignified with a place in the pages of a cotemporary writer. During the years 1S41 and 1842, I contributed a number of letters upon the history and condition of the Santa Fe Trade, etc., to tbe Galveston " Daily Advertiser" and the " Arkansas Intelligencer," under the signatures of "J. G." and "G. "

PREFACE.

. IX portions of which I have had occasion to insert in the present volumes. In Captain Marryat's recent work, en titled " Monsieur Violet," I was not a little annoyed (when I presume I ought to have been flattered) to find large portions of this correspondence copied, much of it verbatim, without the slightest intimation or acknowledg ment whatever, of the source from whence they were pro cured. The public are already so familiar with the long series of literary larcenies of which that famous work was the product, that I should not have presumed to empha size my own grievance at all here, but that the appearance of the same material, frequently in the same words, in these volumes, might, unless accompanied by some explanation, expose me to a charge of plagiarism myself, among those who may never have seen my original letters, or who are not yet aware that " Monsieur Violet" was an offering which had evidently been intended for the altar of Mercury rather than of Minerva.

In my historical sketches of New Mexico, it might have been naturally expected that some notice would be taken of the Texan Santa Fe Expedition of 1841, the events of which are so closely connected with the history of that countiy. I declined, however, to enter upon the topic ; for I considered that none who had seen Mr. Kendall's account of that ill-fated enterprise, would have any induce ment to consult these pages upon the subject ; and for those who had not, I felt sure the best thing I could do, was to direct their attention at once to its attractive pages. The maps which accompany the present work will be found, I believe, substantially correct ; or more so, at least, X

PREFACE.

. than any others of those regions which have been pub lished. They have been prepared, for the most part, from personal observations. Those portions of the country which I have not been able to observe myself, have chiefly been laid down from manuscript maps kindly furnished me by experienced and reliable traders and trappers, and also from the maps prepared under the supervision of United States surveyors. The arrangement I have adopted seems to require a word of explanation. That the reader may the better understand the frequent notices, in the course of my personal narrative, of the Santa Fe Trade, the first chapter has been devoted to the development of its early history. And, though the results of my observations in Northern Mexico and upon the Prairies, as well as on the border, are sometimes inter spersed through the narrative, I have, to a great degree, digested and arranged them into distinct chapters, occupy ing from the sixth to the fifteenth inclusive, of the first volume, and the seven last chapters, of the second.

This plan was resorted to with a view of giving greater com pactness to the work, and relieving the journal, as far as possible, from cumbrous details and needless repetitions. J. G. New Tork, June 12, 1S44. Page 17 3*2 CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

Chapter I

Origin and progressive Development of the Santa Fe Trade — Captain Pike's Narrative — Pursley — La Lande — Expedition of McKnight and others — Glenn — Becknell — Cooper — Sufferings of Captain Becknell and his Companions ■ — -First Introduction of wheeled Vehicles — Colonel Marmaduke — Hostility of the Indians — Recriminations — Indian Ethics — Increase of Outrages — Major Riley's Escort — Annoyed by the Indians — Government Protection — Composition of a Caravan,

Chapter II

Head Quarters of the Santa Fe Trade — Independence and its Locale — A Prairie Trip an excellent Remedy for chronic Diseases — Supplies for the Journey — Wagons, Mules and Oxen — Art of Loading Wagons — Romancing Propensity of Travellers — The Departure — Storms and Wagon-covers — Q.uagmires — Tricks of marauding Indians — Council Grove — Fancy versus Reality — Electioneering on the Prairies — The Organization — -Amateur Travellers and Loafers — Duties of the Watch — Costumes and Equipment of the Party — Timbers for the Journey,

Chapter III

The ' Catch up '—Breaking up of the Encampment— Perversity of Mules — Under Way — The Diamond Spring- Eccentricities of Oxen — First Glance of the Antelope — Buffalo Herds and Prairie Novices — A John Gilpin Race — Culinary Preparations— A Buffalo Feast— Appetite of CONTENTS. XII Paga 50 7 0 87 Prairie Travellers— Troubles in Fording Streams— Fresh Alarms and their Causes— A Wolfish Frolic — Arkansas River — Pleasing Scenery — Character of the Country — Ex traordinary Surgical Operation — The ' Pawnee Rock ' — Salutary Effects of Alarms— New Order of March — Prai rie Encampment and ' Upholstery' — Hoppling and Teth ering of the ' Stock ' — Crossing ihe Arkansas — Great Bat tle with Rattlesnakes — A Mustang Colt and a Mule Fracas — ' The Caches ' — Their Origin, and Signification of the Term, .....

Chapter IV

A Desert Plain — Preparation for a ' Water-Scrape ' — Accident to a French Doctor — Upsetting of a Wagon and its Consequences —A Party of Sioux Warriors — The first real Alarm — Confusion in the Camp — Friendly Demonstrations of the Indians — The Pipe of Peace — Squaws and Papooses — An Extemporary Village — -Lose our Track — Search after the Lost River — Horrible Prospective — The Cimarron Found at last — A Night of Alarms — Indian Serenade and Thieving — Indian Diplomacy — Hail-stones and Hurricanes — Position of the Captain of a Caravan — -His Troubles, his Powers and Want of Powers — More Indians — Hostile Encounter — Results of the Skirmish — The ' Battle-Ground' — Col. Vizcarra and the Gros Venires, ......

Chapter V

A Beautiful Ravine — ' Runners ' Starting for Santa Fe — Fourth of July on the Prairies — The Cibolero or Buflalohunter — Mournful News of Captain Sublette's Company —Murder of Captain Smith and another of the Party by the Indians — -Carelessness and Risks of Hunters — Captain Sublette's Peril — Character and Pursuits of the Ciboleros — The Art of Curing Meat — Purity of the Atmosphere — The ' Round Mound ' — The Mirage or False Ponds — Philosophy thereof— Extensive and Interesting View — Exaggerated Accounts by Travellers of the Buffalo of the Prairies — Their Decrease — A ' Stampede' — Wagon Repairing — Rio Colorado or Canadian River- Meeting between old Friends — Mexican Escort — Disorganizing of the Caravan — Dreadful Thunder-storm — First Symptoms of Civilization — San Miguel— Arrival at Santa Fe— Entry of the Caravan— First Hours of Recreation — Interpreters and Custom-house Arrangements — A Glance at the Trade, etc., .... CONTENTS XIII Page 115 137

Chapter VI

Sketches of the Early History of Santa Fe — First Explorations — Why called New Mexico — Memorial of Onate — His Colony — Captain Leyva's prior Settlement — Singular Stipulations of Ostate — Incentives presented by the Crown to Colonizers — Enormities of Spanish Conquerors — Progress of the new Colony — Cruel Labors of the Aborigines in the Mines — Revolt of the Indians in 1680 — Massacre of the Spaniards — Santa Fe Besieged — Battles — Remaining Spanish Population finally evacuate the Province — Paso del Norte — Iuhuman Murder of a Spanish Priest — Final Recovery of the Country — Insurrection of 1837 — A Prophecy— Shocking Massacre of the Governor and other distinguished Characters — American Merchants, and Neglect of our Government — Governor Armijo: his Intrigues and Success — Second Gathering of Insurgents and their final Defeat,

Chapter VII

Geographical Position of New Mexico — Absence of navigable Streams — The Rio del Norte — Romantic Chasm — Story of a sunken River — Mr. Stanley's Excursion to a famous Lake — Santa Fe and its Localities — El Valle de Taos and its Fertility — Soil of New Mexico — The first Settler at Taos and his Contract with the Indians — Salubrity and Pleasantness of the Climate of New Mexico — Population — State of Agriculture — Staple Productions of the Country — Corn-fields and Fences — Irrigation and Acequias — Tortillas and Tortilleras — Atole, Frijoles and Chile — Singular Custom — Culinary and Table Affairs — Flax and Potato indigenous— Tobacco and Punche — Fruits — Peculiar Mode of cultivating the Grape — Forest Growths — Piston and Mezquite — Mountain Cottonwood — Palmilla or Soap-plant — Pasturage,

Chapter VIII

The Mines of New Mexico — Supposed Concealment of them by the Indians — Indian Superstition and Cozenage — Ruins of La Gran Quivira — Old Mines — Placeres or Mines of Gold Dust— Speculative Theories — Mode of Working the Placeres — Manners and Customs of the Miners — Arbitrary Restrictions of the Mexican Government upon Foreigners — Persecution of a Gachupin — Disastrous Effect of official Interference upon the Mining Interest — Disregard of American Rights and of the U. States Gov- CONTENTS. Pago eminent — Gambucinos and their System — Gold found throughout New Mexico — Silver Mines — Copper, Zinc and Lead — Salinas or Salt Lakes — Sulphurous Springs — Gypsum, and Petrified Trees, 162

Chapter IX

Indifference on the Subject of Horse-breeding — Caballos de Silla — Popularity and Usefulness of the Mule — Mode of harnessing and lading Mules for a Journey — Arrieros and their System — The Mulera or Bell-mare — Surprising Feats of the Muleteers and Vaqueros — The Lazo and its Uses — Ridiculous Usages of the Country in regard to the Ownership of Animals — Anecdote of a Mexican Colonel — The Burro or domestic Ass and its Virtues — Shepherds and their Habits — The Itinerant Herds of the Plains — Sagacity of the Shepherd's Dog — The Sheep Trade — Destruction of Cattle by the Indians — Philosophical Notions of the Marauders — Excellent Mutton — Goats and their Utility — Wild Animals and their Character — A ' Bear Scrape ' — Wolves, Panthers, Wild Birds and Reptiles — The Honey-bee, etc., .... 178

Chapter X

Condition of the Arts and Sciences in New Mexico — Neglect of Education — Primary Schools — Geographical Ignorance — Female Accomplishments — Imported Refinements — Peculiarities of Language, etc. — Condition of the Public Press — State of Medical Science — The Mechanical Arts — Carpentry and Cabinet Work — State of Architecture — Dwelling Houses and their Peculiarities — Rustic Furniture — Curiously constructed Vehicles — Manufacture of Blankets — Other Fabrics — Want of Machinery, 197

Chapter XI

Style of Dress in New Mexico — Riding-dress of the Caballero — Horse Trappings — The Rebozo — Passion for Jewelry—Apparel of the Female Peasantry — ' Wheeled Tarantulas ' — General Appearance of the People — Tawny Complexion — Singular Mode of Painting the Human Face — Striking Traits of Character — Alms-giving — Beggars and their Tricks— Wonderful Cure of Paralysis — Lack of Arms and Officers— Traits of Boldness among the Yeomanry — Politeness and Suavity of the Mexicans — Remarks of Mr. Poinsett— Peculiarities observed in Epistolary Intercourse— Salutations— ia Siestei, CONTENTS. XV Page 225 245 267 CHAPTER XH Government of New Mexico — The Administration of Justice — Judicial Corruption — Prejudices against Americans — Partiality for the English — Anecdote of Governor Armijo and a Trapper — Outrage upon an American Physician — Violence suffered by the American Consul and others — Arbitrary Impositions upon Foreigners — Contribucion de Guerra — The Alcaldes and their System — The Fueros — Mode of punishing Delinquents and Criminals — Mexican System of Slavery — Thieves and Thieveries Outrage upon an American Merchant — Gambling and Gambling-houses — Game of Monte — Anecdote of a Lady of Fashion — Chuza— Cockpits — Corrcr el gallo — El Coleo — Fandangoes — Cigarrilos,

Chapter XIII

Military Hierarchy of Mexico — Religious Superstitions — Legend of Neustra Sefiora de Guadalupe— A. profane Version of the Story — A curious Plau for manufacturing "Water — Saints and Images— Processions — How to make it Rain — The Sacied Host— Fanaticism and Murder- Honors paid to a Bishop — Servility to Priests — Attendance at Public Worship — New Mexicans in Church — The Vesper Eells Passion Week and the Ceremonies pertaining thereto Ridiculous Penitencia — Whitewashing of Criminals — Matrimonial Connexions and Mode of Contracting them — Restrictions upon Lovers— Onerous Fees paid for Marriages and Burials — Anecdote of a Ranchero— Ditto of a Servant and of a Widow, illustrative of Priestly Extorlion_Modes of Burial, and Burial Ground of the Heretics, .■■•■■

Chapter XIV

The Pueblos— Their Character for Sobriety, Honesty, and Industry—Traditional descent from Montezuma— Their Languages— Former and present Population— The Pueblo of pecos— Singular Habits of that ill-fated Tribe— Curious Tradition— Montezuma and the Sun— Legend of a Serpent— Religion and government— Secret Council- Laws and Customs— Excellent Provisions against Demoralization—Primitive Pastimes of the Pueblos— Their Architecture— Singular Structures of Taos, and other novel Fortifications— Primitive state of the Arts among the Pueblos— Style of Dress, Weapons, etc.— Their Diet — The Guayavc. . CONTENTS. 282 305

Chapter XV

The wild Tribes of New Mexico — Speculative Theories — Clavigero and the Azteques — Pueblo Bonito and other Ruins — Probable Relationship between the Azteques and Tribes of New Mexico — The several Nations of this Province — Navajoes and Azteques — Manufactures of the former — Their Agriculture, Religion, etc. — Mexican Cruelty to the Indians and its Consequences — Inroads of the Navajoes — Exploits of a Mexican Arm}' — How to make a Hole in a powder-keg — The Apaches and their character — Their Food — Novel Mode of settling Disputes — Range of their marauding Excursions — Indian Traffic and imbecile Treaties — Devastation of the Country — Chihuahua Rodomontades — Juan Jose, a celebrated Apache Chief, and his tragical End, etc. — Massacre of Americans in Retaliation — A tragical Episode — Proyecto de Guerra and a ' gallant' Display — The Yutas and their Hostilities — A personal Adventure with them, but no Bloodshed — The Jicarillas. ....

Chapter XVI

Incidents of a Return Trip from Santa Fe — Calibre of our Party — Return Caravans — Remittances — Death of Mr. Langham — Burial in the Desert — A sudden Attack — Confusion in the Camp — The Pawnee.s — A Wolfish Escort — Scarcity of Buffalo — Unprofitable Delusion — Arrival — Table of Camping Sites and Distances — Condition of the Town of Independence — The Mormons — Their Dishonesty and Immorality — Their high-handed Measures, and a Rising of the People — A fatal Skirmish — A chivalrous Parade of the Citizens — Expulsion of the Mormons — The Meteoric Shower, and Superstition, etc. — Wanderings and Improprieties of the ' Latter-day Saints', — Gov. Boggs' Recipe — The City of Nauvoo — Contem plated Retribution of the Mormons. COMMERCE OF THE PRAIRIES

Chapter I

Origin and progressive Development of the Santa Fe Trade — Captain Pike's Narrative — Parsley — La Lande — Expedition of McKnight and others — Glenn — Becknell — Cooper — Sufferings of Captain Becknell and his Companions — First Introduction of wheeled Vehicles — Colonel Marmaduke — Hostility of the Indians — Recriminations — Indian Ethics — Increase of Outrages — Major Rilcy's Escort — Annoyed by the Indians — Government Protection — Composition of a Caravan. The overland trade between the United States and the northern provinces of Mexico, seems to have had no very definite origin ; having been rather the result of accident than of any organized plan of commercial establishment. For a number of years its importance attracted no attention whatever. From Captain Pike's narrative we learn, that one James Parsley, after much wandering over the wild and then unexplored regions west of the Mississippi, finally fell in with some Indians on the Platte river, near its source in the Rocky Mountains ; and obtain ing information from them respecting the set- 2* ORIGIN OF THE 18 tlements of New Mexico, he set out in company with a party of these savages, and descend ed, in 1805, to Santa Fe, where he remained for several years — perhaps till his death.

It does not appear, however, that he took with him any considerable amount of merchandise. Although Captain Pike speaks of Pursley as the first American that ever crossed the de sert plains into the Spanish provinces, it is nevertheless related hy the same writer, that, in consequence of information obtained by the trappers, through the Indians, relative to this isolated province, a merchant of Kaskaskia, named Morrison, had aheady dispatched, as early as 1804, a French Creole, by the name of La Lande, up Platte river, witli directions to push his way into Santa Fe, if the passage was at ali practicable. The ingenious emissary was perfectly successful in Ms enterprise ; but the kind and generous treatment of the natives overcame at once his patriotism and his probity. He neither returned to his employer nor accounted for the proceeds of his adventure.

His expansive intellect readily conceiv ed the advantages of setting up in business for himself upon this 'borrowed' capital; which he accordingly did, and remained there, not only unmolested, but honored and es teemed till his death, which occurred some fifteen or twenty years afterward — leaving a large family, and sufficient properly to entitle him to the fame of rico among his neigh bors. The Santa Fe trade attracted very httle no- SANTA FE TRADE tice, however, until the return of Captain Pike,* whose exciting descriptions of the new El Dorado spread like wildfire throughout the western country. In 1812, an expedition was fitted out under the auspices of Messrs. Mc- Knight, Beard, Chambers, and several others (in all about a dozen), who, following the di rections of Captain Pike across the dreary western wilds, finally succeeded in. reaching * This celebrated officer, who was afterwards promoted to the rank of General, and died in the achievement of the glorious victory at York, Upper Canada, in 1813, was sent, in 1806, on an exploring expedition up the Arkansas, with instructions to pass to the sources of Red River, for which those of the Canadian were then mistaken.

Captain Pike, however, even passed around the head of the latter ; and, crossing the mountain with an almost in credible degree of peril and suffering, he descended upon the Rio del Norte with his little party, then but fifteen in number. Believing himself now upon Red River, within the then assumed bounds of the United States, he erected a small fortification for his company, till the opening of the spring of 1807 should enable him to continue his descent to Natchitoches. As he was within the Mexican ter ritory, however, and hut sixty to eighty miles from the northern settlements, his position was soon discovered, and a force sent out to take him into Santa Fe, which, hy a treacherous manœuvre, was effected without opposition. The Spanish officer assured him that the Governor, learning he had missed his way, had sent animals and an escort to convey his men and baggage to a navigable point on Red River (Rio Colorado), and that his Excellency desired very much to see him at Santa Fe, which might be taken on their way.

As toon, however, as the Governor had Captain Pike in his power, he sent him with his men to the Commandant General at Chihuahua, where most of his papers were seized, and he and his party were sent under an escort, via San Antonio de Bexar, to the United States. The narrative of Captain Pike gives a full account of this expedition, both previous and subsequent to its interruption by the Spa niards ; hut as this work is now rarely met with, the foregoing note may not be deemed altogether supererogatory. Many will believe and assert to the present day, however, that this expedition had some connection with the famous project of Aaron Burr ; yet the noble and patriotic character of the officer who conducted it will not permit us to countenance such an aspersion. Mcknight and comrades. Santa Fe in safety.

But these new adventurers were destined to experience trials and disappointments of wliich they had formed no conception. Believing that the declaration of Lndependence by Hidalgo, in 1810, had completely removed those injurious re strictions which had hitherto rendered all foreign intercourse, except by special permis sion from the Spanish Government, illegal, they were wholly unprepared to encounter the embarrassments with which despotism and tyranny invariably obstruct the path of the stranger. They were doubtless ignorant that the patriotic chief Hidalgo had already been arrested and executed, that the roy alists had once more regained the ascend ency, and that all foreigners, but particularly Americans, were now viewed with unusual suspicion. The result was that the luckless traders, immediately upon their arrival, were seized as spies, their goods and chattels con fiscated, and themselves thrown into the calahozos of Chihuahua, where most of them were kept in rigorous confinement for the space of nine years ; when the republican forces under Iturbide getting again in the ascendant, McKnight and his comrades were finally set at liberty.

It is said that two of the party contrived, early in 1821, to return to the United States in a canoe, which they succeeded in forcing down the Canadian fork of the Arkansas. The stories promidgated by these men soon induced others to launch mto the same field of enter- CAPTAIN becknell. prise, among whom was a merchant of Ohio, named Glenn, who, at the time, had an In dian trading-house near the mouth of the Verdigris river. Having taken the circuitous route up the Arkansas towards the mountams, this pioneer trader encountered a great deal of trouble and privation, but eventually reached Santa Fe with his httle caravan, before the cfose of 1821, in perfect safety. During the same year, Captain Becknell, of Missouri, with four trusty companions, went out to Santa Fe by the far western prairie route.

This intrepid httle band started from the vicinity of Franklin, with the original purpose of trading with the Iatan or Co manche Lidians; but havmg fallen in acci dentally with a party of Mexican rangers, when near the Mountains, they were easily prevailed upon to accompany them to the new emporium, where, notwithstanding the trifling amount of merchandise they were possessed of, they realized a very handsome profit. The fact is, that up to this date New Mexico had derived all her supplies from the Internal Provinces by the way of Vera Cruz ; but at such exorbitant rates, that com mon calicoes, and even bleached and brown domestic goods, sold as high as two and three dollars per vara (or Spanish yard of thirty three inches). Becknell returned to the United States alone the succeeding winter, leaving the rest of his company at Santa Fe. i The favorable reports brought by the enter prising Captain, stimulated others to embark COLONEL COOPER. in the trade ; and early in the following May, Colonel Cooper and sons, from the same neighborhood, accompanied by several others (their whole number about fifteen), set out with four or five thousand dollars' worth of goods, which they transported upon pack horses.