Mar. 27th. Arrived at Carracal [Carrizal], at twelve o'clock,[II'-2] Distance 28 miles; the road well watered and the situation pleasant. The father-in-law of our friend commanded six or seven years here. When we arrived at fort, the commandant, Don Pedro Rues Saramende, received Robinson and myself with a cold bow, and informed Malgares that we could repair to the public quarters. To this Malgares indignantly replied that he should accompany us, and turned to go, when the commandant took him by the arm, made many apologies to him and us, and we at length reluctantly entered his quarters. Here for the first time I saw the gazettes of Mexico, which gave rumors of Colonel [Aaron] Burr's conspiracies, the movements of our troops, etc.; but which were stated in so vague and undefined a manner as only to create our anxiety without throwing any light on the subject.
Mar. 28th. Marched at half past three o'clock, and arrived at the Warm Springs [Ojos Calientes] at sundown; crossed one little fosse on the route.[II'-3]
Sunday, Mar. 29th. Marched at ten o'clock, and continued our route, with but a short halt, until sundown, when we encamped without water. Distance 30 miles.[II'-4]
Mar. 30th. Marched before seven o'clock; the front arrived at water at eleven o'clock; the mules, at twelve. The spring[II'-5] on the side of the mountain, to the east of the road, is a beautiful situation. I here saw the first ash timber I observed in the country. This water is 52 miles from the Warm Springs. Yesterday and to-day saw cabrie [antelope, Antilocapra americana]. Marched 15 miles further and encamped without wood or water; passed two other small springs to the east of the road.
Mar. 31st. Marched early and arrived at an excellent spring at ten o'clock. The roads from Senora, Tanos [qu: Yanos?], Buenaventura, etc., join about 400 yards before you arrive at this spring.[II'-6]
Arrived at the village of [hiatus][II'-7] at night, a large and elegant house, for the country; here were various labors carried on by criminals in irons. We here met with a Catalonian, who was but a short time from Spain, whose dialect was such that he could scarcely be understood by Malgares, and whose manners were much more like those of a citizen of our Western frontiers than of a subject of a despotic prince.
Apr. 1st.[II'-8] In the morning Malgares dispatched a courier with a letter to the Commandant-general Salcedo, to inform him of our approach, and also one to his father-in-law.
Apr. 2d. When we arrived at Chihuahua, we pursued our course through the town to the house of the general. I was much astonished to see with what anxiety Malgares anticipated the meeting with his military chief. Having been on the most arduous and enterprising expedition ever undertaken by any of his Majesty's officers from these provinces, and having executed it with equal spirit and judgment, yet was he fearful of his [Salcedo's] meeting him with an eye of displeasure. He appeared to be much more agitated than ourselves, although we may be supposed to have also had our sensations, as on the will of this man depended our future destiny, at least until our country could interfere in our behalf. On our arrival at the general's, we were halted in the hall of the guard until word was sent to the general of our arrival, when Malgares was first introduced. He remained some time, during which a Frenchman came up and endeavored to enter into conversation with us, but was soon frowned into silence, as we conceived he was only some authorized spy. Malgares at last came out and asked me to walk in. I found the general sitting at his desk; he was a middle-sized man, apparently about 55 years of age, with a stern countenance; but he received me graciously and beckoned to a seat.
He then observed, "You have given us and yourself a great deal of trouble."
Captain Pike. On my part entirely unsought, and on that of the Spanish government voluntary.