Identifier: reportsofexplora03unit_0 (find matches)
Title: Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean
Year: 1855 (1850s)
Authors: United States. War Dept Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 Baird, Spencer Fullerton, 1823-1887 United States. Army. Corps of Engineers
Subjects: Pacific railroads Discoveries in geography Natural history Indians of North America
Publisher: Washington : A.O.P. Nicholson, printer (etc.)
Contributing Library: San Francisco Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: California State Library Califa/LSTA Grant

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was one great inducement for the establishment of the village. But it is so distantfrom the route we have thus far adopted, that it must be left for future examination. From thesummit of the bluff our course led over a somewhat hilly prairie to the entrance of CanonBlanco. We found that we had passed the trail leading to La Cuesta, which it was our inten-tion to visit, and therefore turned back, taking a path which seemed to pursue a northeasterlydirection towards that place. It was not a wagon road, tbough a few Mexican carts mighthave passed over it, and proved to be rocky and rough. The general surface, however, waslevel till we reached the edge of the bank overlooking the river and tbe town. The descentthen, even by the road, was so precipitous that we were obliged to encamp at the top. Theview from this point was singular and beautiful. A cultivated valley, about a mile wide, wasenclosed between bluffs five hundred feet in height. The town, with its plaza and church, rested en J
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LA CUESTA.—CANON BLANCO.—LA LAGDNA. 43 at the foot of the opposite cliff, and the tortuous river, with a border of trees, wound throughrich meadows and fields of ripe corn. A sketch was taken by the artist, while some of usdescended, sliding down on foot, at every turn catching at the rocks and hushes for support.The barometer escaped many dangers, and was read at the bottom, indicating, as stated, fivehundred feet descent. As we entered the valley a loud clamor was heard from the nearestrancheros, and we found that the villagers had taken us for a band of Comanches; for thissolitary spot is seldom disturbed from without except by those unwelcome visitors. When theirapprehensions were quieted, and they found us to be Americans, they displayed a singular mix-ture of rudeness and civility, for they saw we were few in number and unarmed. They insistedupon our accompanying them to a ball in the village, but at the same time were heardtalking to each other of the Gringos,* and joking r

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