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favorable one for summing up, in one general view, the several characteristics of the country we have been passing through since we left Santa Fe. The geological features of the country have been, from Santa Fe to the Rio Jemez, all intermixture of primary and secondary mountains, and mésa or table heights the latter for the most part being overlaid with basaltic trap. From the valley of the Rio de Jemez to where we now are, (or to the Sierra de Tumecha,) the formation is entirely of a secondary character, the superior rocks being generally finely (in contradistinction to coarse grained) argillo arenaceous in a few localities exposing outcrops of massive gypsum, selenitic gypsum being found pervading, but sparingly, and bituminous coal, but of an impure, slaty character, characterizing almost continuously this whole section. And, commensurate with this section, arroyos, cañons, mésas, with their well defined crests and escarpments; plateau and hemispherical mounds, intermitting dirty, claycolored rills, dignified with the name of rios, (rivers;) and an all pervading dull, yellow, dirty, buff colored soil, have, in their respective magnitudes and relations, characterized the face of the landscape.

In regard to the fertility or productive qualities of the soil for the whole area traversed this side of Santa Fe, saving the inconsiderable exceptions which have from time to time been noted in my journal, the country is one extended naked, barren waste, sparsely covered with cedar and pine of a scrub growth, and thickly sprinkled with the wild sage, or artemisia, the color of the domestic sage, suggesting very appropriately the dead, lifeless color of the wild.

Our camp for the night is on a very small rill of good water, in the vicinity of some cornfields, whence, on account of the absence of pasture, we are obliged to draw our forage.

A party of Mexicans and Pueblo Indians, who, under the command of Major Kendrick, assisted by Captain Dodge, left camp this morning to reconnoitre the pass of the Tumecha mountains, are still out; and some fears are entertained lest, on account of their being ignorant of the affray this afternoon, they may be surprised, and possibly be taken, at a disadvantage. Sandoval and a party of Mexicans started off this evening to meet them and direct them to camp.

Fourteenth camp, September 1. Major Kendrick got in with a portion of his party late last evening, the horses of the Pueblo Indians being too much broken down to permit them to return with him. We all have some apprehension lest their ignorance of our present relations with the Navajos may unwittingly lead them to give the enemy an advantage over them.

Major Kendrick reports that the Navajo guide who accompanied him was called aside on the way by another Navajo, and doubtless informed of the affair of yesterday. He thinks he must have been made acquainted with it; for on two occasions he endeavored to lead the major and his command aside, to give battle to a bear, which, he said, another Navajo had at hay, aside of the route. The major, however, was not to be diverted horn his course; and probably it is very well he was not, for, the guide making his escape soon after, the chances were that his object was to lead them into an ambush.

The major knew nothing of the commencement of hostilities till he arrived in camp. And, what liked to have proved a very serious affair, he and his party, last night, whilst approaching the camp, were fired upon