places. Among these changes I might mention more particularly the dress of the female. From a state of absolute nudity, they have been elevated, in some instances, to silks and satins.

Before New Mexico became a Territory of the United States, the villages of the Taos, and other settlements in this Territory, were the scenes of constant smuggling from the United States. The Mexican custom officers were either bribed or deceived constantly; every possible measure was adopted to cheat them, and when this did not succeed, bribery was resorted to with very good results for the traders. The duty on American manufactures was enormous, and smuggling was carried on to such an extent that it was quite impossible to conduct a legitimate trade. Commerce having reached this condition, very few persons attempted to trade in the village of New Mexico, who did not resolve on smuggling as the only source of large profit.

It would be an easy matter to fill a large volumne with incidents of this kind of trade, many of which are exceedingly interesting. A favorite plan of the smugglers was that of carrying a large supply of goods to the boundary line and then making a cache of them in the forest, advancing with a very small portion on which they paid the regular duty with a tolerably good grace. Advancing into the settlements they then began to trade with the inhabitants without arousing the suspicion of the authorities. Whenever a favorable opportunity presented itself these merchants would replenish their stores from the cache which they had made, and thus continue to sell goods to the value of thousands of dollars, having paid duty on perhaps the first five hundred dollar's worth. But even this plan was attended with many difficulties. Oftimes when the weary merchant was making the cache of his goods, a keen eyed Indian, who had been following him for days for the purpose, lay concealed not fifty paces off in full view of the operation. Then stealing quietly away he soon becomes. the leader of a select band. The cache is robbed, and when our smuggler returns for a second supply he discovers that while he has been cheating, the Indians have been stealing

his goods. In the midst of his rage and disappointment he could not fail to recognize the equity of the transaction.

But as with the Indian when wronged or robbed, it soon became the policy of these trades to seek revenge. They were seldom caught twice in the same trap. A fatal snare was set for the lurking thieves, and, in consequence, the caches of the smugglers soon became a terror to them. By some arrangement a large quantity of powder was embedded in the earth just over the goods, so that when it was disturbed by one unacquainted with this circumstance, it would explode. this way many an Indian had been sent up suddenly into the air far above the surrounding trees, or blown into atoms by the fatal magazine.

In

Some of the Indian Pueblos in New Mexico were also very interesting to the traveler. Their houses were generally built on top of each other, each a little smaller than the one below it, until a sort of pyramid was formed. The inhabitants entered their respective dwellings through the roofs by the aid of ladders.

The farming utensils of the Mexicans were of the rudest kind, many of them being curiosities of pioneer life, but these are gradually giving away to the modern implements of American manufacture. The pioneer plough of New Mexico consisted of one piece of timber with a certain bend. One end was sharpened and on it was fastened a piece of iron rudely imitating the plough shear. In ploughing, oxen were used, yoked in the Egyptain style, to the horns.

The crops of corn and wheat in New Mexico were generally large, and it was principally upon these that the inhabitants depended for support. In converting this grain into flour, they generally used two large stones which were operated by hand. Their diet was, for the most part, a kind of corn meal gruel, wheat bread, and the usual vegetables. Apples, peaches, plums and grapes were raised in New Mexico in great abundance. The celebrated El Paso wine was manufactured from the latter.

The brief description of Toas, may be applied to Santa Fe, and most of the other towns of New Mexico. The settle

ments were all similar, and the manners and customs of the people about the same. The Mexicans were not a very chaste or virtuous set of people, and it may well be regretted that the Americans who have gone among them, have afforded them a very poor example in this respect, but their condition is now being rapidly improved. Their greatest recreation and most exquisite enjoyment consisted in dancing. These took the place of the ball room in the more civilized states, only that the Mexican dance was looked to as something more of a peculiarity of their nation. During the winter season, the traveler will find a dance in progress on every evening in a town or village in New Mexico, to which he is invariably invited. The music, in which these people do not excel, consists in the violin and a guitar, the players accompanying the music with their voices, making up words to suit the uncertain measure of the air as they proceed. The Mexican ladies always display great care and little good taste in preparing for the fandango. They put on the most guady colored paint, but still appear untidy. The men are always dressed plain and, seldom make any attempt to appear in full dress.

Such was the country and such the people among whom Kit Carson lived during the short interval between Colonel Fremont's second and third expeditions.

CHAPTER LIII.

COLONEL FREMONT'S THIRD EXPEDITION - PECULIAR QUALITIES OF KIT CARSON - FREMONT ATTACKED BY THE MEXICANS - FREMONT VISITS KLAMATH LAKE AND THE LAVA BEDS-THREE OF HIS PARTY KILLED THE REVENGE.

IT WAS in 1845, that Col. John C. Fremont set out on his third expedition to the West, an account of which will be found full of interest to the reader, since it leads us into the Mexican war, and the conquest of California. At Bent's Fort the party was joined by a very important person-one in whom every man had the greatest confidence, and whose face was like sunshine to every mountaineer-Kit Carson. He had sold his farm, and, with his partner, Owens, had joined Fremont once more. The Colonel was glad to see him, for there was always certain service, in connection with the expedition, which Kit could execute a little better than any one else. That service may be summed up in this way: Carson was a good guide, being acquainted with nearly all the mountain passes. He was not a bad interpreter, as he could speak Spanish fluently, and by the aid of signs, make himself understood to any tribe from the lava beds of the Modocs, to the worm-eaters of Lower California. In the hour of peril, when assaulted by hostile Indians, the foremost foe always fell by a ball from his unerring rifle; when privations and hardships were to be endured, he was full of cheer, and his brave words and courageous deeds were food to his weary, disconsolate companions; for bravery, honesty and all the virtues that adorn the life of the true adventurer, his was an example so brilliant as to attract all towards it. Kit Carson was, then, in the eyes of Fremont, a valuable companion.

But it must not happen in this narrative, as it too often does, that the great virtues of one overshadow those of others around

him. There were many good, true, brave mountaineers in Fremont's party whom the great explorer loved with equal ardor. Among these were Maxwell, Fitzpatrick, Lajeunesse and others--all mountaineers of high standing, compeers with Carson, and worthy to be led by so brave a man as Colonel Fremont.

Fremont's third expedition set out from Bent's Fort, proceeding up the Arkansas, thence to Ballo Salado, or Soda Springs, thence to Piney river, thence to White river. From this point, crossing the mountains, they proceeded to Prevost's Fork, which has become famous in history on account of the massacre of Prevost's party upon its banks. The expedition traveled from this point to Salt Lake, where Fremont spent some time in exploring its islands. Leaving this place, they crossed the great desert, touched at Sutter's Fort, and encamped at San José. This long journey was attended with many obstacles, several encounters with hostile Indians, loss of ani mals, and many hardships which rendered the party nearly unfit for a continuance of the journey.

It was now determined to proceed to Monterey, in Califor nia, for supplies. Accordingly they set out, and when within a few miles of the town, they were surprised by meeting a messenger with orders from General Castro, the Mexican commander, to leave the territory at once or he would march his army against them. Fremont gave the messenger to understand that he would leave the territory when he had completed the task assigned him by his government, but not sooner, and fell back into a strong position, where he took some pains to fortify his camp. He was scarcely settled down in this position, when he observed, in full view, the Mexican general advancing at the head of several hundred troops. The mouutaineers, although seeing themselves many times outnumbered by the advancing forces, were unshaken and remained firm. Gen. Castro, having approached the party as near as his courage would support him, halted and began his demonstrations, with a view to frightening the intruders away. His cannon roared, his cavalry galloped to and fro, his infantry maneuvered, but to all this the Americans sent forth a haughty defiance, invit