The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 36, July 1932 - April, 1933 Page: 51
328 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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A Log of the Texas-California Cattle Trail, 1854
great deal of Saleratus in it, and is said to be an effectual cure
for vermin.
Some few make desperate attempts to improve their facial fea-
tures by painting and tattooing with various colors.
It is impossible to trade with them to advantage, or even as an
accomodation, for instance; two bits is asked for all sized melons,
and a good cotton shirt will not buy more than one. They seem
to have no idea of the value of anything we Americans possess; we
bought some Corn and Melons as matter of necessity.
Ever since we struck their towns, their presence has been a
great annoyance to us, for, beside their begging, thay will steal
anything that can be carried of [f], even to scraps of rawhide.
This morning I missed my Canteen and a chain Hobble, which
was fastened to the back of the Ambulanche. Upon the whole I
believe thay are a great set of scoundrels, and will at some future
day give our Government much trouble.
Sd Tuesday. Clear and warm. Encamped in an open paraire
without any shade, and I believe some four or five miles below the
Pemos village.
The corn, beans, watermelons, &c grown here is very inferior in
size, although the quality seems good enough; I attribute it to
want of strength of soil; the soil is of a whiteish clay character
and contains much saleratus, so much in fact that large pools of
water, is almost unfit for drinking.
Sitting quietly down, after supper, a few nights ago, several of
us made a calculation of the amount of property lost during the
present year, on this route. At reasonable calculations we make
out that, three thousand head of cattle at $25 each, $75,000, and
enough mules, Horses and other property destroyed to make
$25,000 more, making in all $100,000, not very far from the true
amount.
The Indians are in possession of 3/4 of it.
We left camp to-day at 5 o'clock, intending to travel all night.
During the night we passed a forest of the tall, ribbed, cactus,
some were two and a half feet th[r]ough and thirty feet high.
Stopped for breakfast at 3 o'clock, making about twenty miles;
all along the road there is as good grass as can be found anywhere
on the trip.
4 Wednesday. Fine day. Left camp about seven, travelled
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 36, July 1932 - April, 1933, periodical, 1933; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101093/m1/59/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.