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what is on the [?] about 80
miles above here. Having spent
considerable money while [?]
and not [?] to draw so
heavily on my small [?]
sum. I purchased a specimen
of the Genus [?], [?] my
[?] goods on [?] and started
for the [blue?]. [?] far there were two
of us – carried our rations with us.
During the day we drove Domingo
[sic.] before us, and at night
lit a fire and slept under
no other roof than the firmament
afforded. We accomplished the
distance in a little more than
four days and should have made
it much quicker but for the
deep sand on some parts of the
journey. It was a new form of
[?] and I should enjoy it
immensely with a congenial companion
[Page Break]
or even alone.

The Rio Grande valley, which is
the only [?]able land in this
country as far as agriculture is
concerned, is from one to two
miles in width in the [?]
[?] of the [?], and as [?]
well around with trees, about
all of which are [?], with
great bushes [?] like large apple
trees. [?] the Rail Road, [?] [?]
into it most of [whatever?] [?]
takes possession of by Mexicans and
whites [?], although [very?] little
[?] [?] [?] [?] [?]. But
there can be no doubt as to its
fertility, and does the Rio Grande
but furnish water enough the
valley might sustain an [?]
population. I have never seen [?]
[?] corn stalks or better ears of
corn than here. What produces at