ALVA NUÑEZ CABEZA DE VACA CROSSING THE GREAT AMERICAN DESERT. but omitted the trifling formality of coming back again. The log-huts of Kaskaskia knew him no more; he lived in opulence in a one-story adobe house, while the excellent Morrison "Looked for the coming which might not be;" and finally La Lande died in the odor of sanctity, and was gathered to his fathers, without having rendered any account of sales, or made any remittance to his principal. It was at about the beginning of this century that it dawned upon our people that there were good markets as well as cities and people in and near this same Rio Grande Valley, and under Mexican rule. There is said to be in the ancient palace at Santa Fe a Spanish document proving the existence of a trail in the last quarter of the eighteenth century from the old French settlements in what is now Illinois to some of the towns in New Mexico, and from one of them-Abiquiu-to California. General Kearny is said to have Four men, starting with their goods in dispatched a courier over the latter. But 1812, and manfully pushing their way to all efforts of the writer have failed to Santa Fe, returned only in 1821, having prove the authenticity, or secure proper been imprisoned during nearly all the intranslations, of the document in question. termediate time. The next year, howevMr. Gregg, in his interesting book, The er, marked the opening of the Santa Fe Commerce of the Prairies (now out of Trail, that wonderful road, some eight print), from which much information hundred miles in length, rising so impercould be collated, stated that a merchant ceptibly for three-quarters of this disof Kaskaskia, named Morrison, heard, tance as to seem absolutely level, and about 1804, through some trappers, of the without bridge from end to end. There stories which the Indians had told them it stretched away toward the sunset half of this ancient land, where Spanish pomp a century ago, and there it stretches toand civilization went hand in hand with day; and what poet's dream, what proroyally high prices for merchandise. He phetic vision of the ardent patriot, steaddispatched one La Lande, a French Cana- fastly believing in the future greatness dian, on an adventure to Santa Fe, and of his country, is commensurate with Mr. La Lande went thither with alacrity, either the romance or the reality of the been expected. The practicability of this method being established, the trade began steadily to increase, and in a few years a large amount of capital was embarked therein. Its initial point was first Franklin, some one hundred and fifty miles west of St. Louis; then Independence; then Westport-all these towns being on the Missouri River, and thus easily reached during the season of navigation. Here were found motley crowds-traders, outfitters, dealers in supplies of all kinds, tourists, invalids hoping to regain their health by a trip on the plains, drivers, and "roughs" in abundance. The covered wagons were drawn first by horses, then by mules, then by both mules and oxen, and were carefully loaded. Besides the merchandise, supplies for the men were carried-say, bacon, flour, coffee, sugar, and a little salt, it being expected that one hundred wagons, and a "captain of the caravan" would divide them into four divisions, with a lieutenant to each. Every individual in the caravan was compelled to stand his watch at night, and this guard must have presented a motley assortment of clothing and arms. When all was ready, the start was made. Every night a hollow square and temporary corral were made with the wagons, and the camp fires lighted outside of this square. Across swamps, quagmires, and even rivers, the teams were driven, men being sent ahead to make temporary bridges over the first two. of brush or long grass covered with earth, and sometimes, for crossing streams, to fabricate "buffalo boats" of hides stretched over frames of poles, or empty wagon bodies. The main route to Santa Fe will be described later on, but the trains sometimes left the Arkansas Valley near what is call- | ones; but Mr. Gregg, writing in 1844, ex Cimarron Valley, and passed on, striking | should not be savages themselves because the main trail somewhere near the present site of Fort Union. There is no doubt that great trouble was experienced with the Indians from time to time, and that while they might dread interference with strong parties, they were glad enough to attack weak they dealt with savages." He adds, "In the course of twenty years, since the commencement of this trade, I do not believe there have been a dozen deaths upon the Santa Fe route, even including those who have been killed off by disease as well as by the Indians." When the caravans were within a moderate distance of Santa Fe, runners were forwarded to send back supplies, engage store-houses, and make arrangements with the customs officers-arrangements not unlike, probably, those made with (some) customs officers in other parts of the world and in later days. And then, at last, the long valleys traversed and the high hills crossed, the goal appeared in sight. Loud cheers rang out, guns were discharged, and demonstrations of the greatest joy abounded on every side. I must quote once more from Mr. Gregg's enthusiastic description: "It was truly a scene for the artist's ENTRANCE OF THE CARAVAN INTO SANTA FE. THE DON. pencil to revel in. Even the animals seemed to participate in the humor of their riders, who grew more and more merry and obstreperous as they descended toward the city. I doubt, in short, whether the walls of Jerusalem were beheld for the first time by the Crusaders with much more tumultuous and soul-enrapturing joy. "The arrival produced a great deal of bustle and excitement among the natives. 'Los Americanos!' 'Los carros!' La entrada de la caravana!' were to be heard in every direction; and crowds of women and boys flocked around to see the newcomers, while crowds of leperos hung about, as usual, to see what they could pilfer. The wagoners were by no means free from excitement on this occasion. Informed of the ordeal' they had to pass, they had spent the previous morning in 'rubbing up,' and now they were prepared, with clean faces, sleek combed hair, and their choicest Sunday suit, to meet the 'fair eyes' of glistening black that were sure to stare at them as they passed. There was yet another preparation to be made in order to 'show off' to advantage. Each wagoner must tie a brand-new 'cracker' to the lash of his whip, for on driving through the streets and the plaza publica every one strives to outvie his comrades in the dexterity with which he flourishes this favorite badge of his authority." It Then were sold the domestic cottons, calicoes, cotton velvets, silks, hardware, etc., which had been brought across the plains; and the foundation of many a large fortune was laid in the handsome profits coming from this business. suffered at times from the capricious and despotic behavior of the Spanish or Mexican authorities, and was closed in 1843 by them, only to be re-opened, however, in the ensuing spring. In 1841 the Texans, being at war with Mexico, sent an expedition into the country, which resulted most disastrously; and ostensibly, in reprisal for the treatment of their countrymen, gangs of men, under Warfield and McDaniel, made attempts to raid some of the trains as well as attack villages. One of these gangs was also guilty of the robbery and dastardly murder of Don Antonio José Chavez, in April, 1843, and the criminals were pursued, and most of them captured. Nor was the trade seriously interrupted by the Mexican war, for Santa Fe was taken by our troops in 1846, and an American Governor soon replaced the haughty Dons. Then it progressed steadily, and only the Indians seem to have interfered with it; and when the great iron roads began to push out from the Missouri, the starting-place moved farther and farther West. The forwarding establishment at the head of which is Don Miguel A. Otero, a highly respected citizen of New Mexico, and uncle of the Territorial Delegate to Congress, has made seven jumps in eleven years. It was, in 1868, at Hays City, Kansas. Thence it went to Sheridan, Kit Carson, Granada, La Junta, El Moro, Otero, and Las Vegas. In Of interesting incidents, sometimes pleasing, often tragic, there is large store, from which one has but to choose. either 1850 or 1851, F. X. Aubry, a young man of Canadian descent, rode, on a wager, from Santa Fe to Independence in five days and sixteen hours, his own beautiful mare Nelly having carried him, it is said, over one hundred and fifty miles. It is sad to relate that the man possessing the courage and endurance for such a feat was killed in a brawl in Santa Fe, September 11, 1854. In 1850 a United States mail party was cut off by the Apache and |