Decline of Prices -- Statistical Table -- Chihuahua Trade -- Its Extent -- Different Ports through which Goods are introduced to that Market -- Expedition between Chihuahua and Arkansas -- The Drawback -- The more recent Incidents of the Santa Fé Caravans -- Adventures of 1843 -- Robbery and Murder of Chavez -- Expedition from Texas -- Defeat of Gen. Armijo's Van-guard -- His precipitate Retreat -- Texan Grievances -- Unfortunate Results of indiscriminate Revenge -- Want of discipline among the Texans -- Disarmed by Capt. Cook -- Return of the Escort of U. S. Dragoons, and of the Texans -- Demands of the Mexican Government -- Closing of the Santa Fé Trade, 221 CHAPTER XXVI {X of Vol. II} GEOGRAPHY OF THE PRAIRIES Extent of the Prairies -- Mountains -- _Mesas_ or Table-lands -- _El Llano Estacado_ -- _Cañones_ -- Their Annoyance to the early Caravans -- Immense Gullies -- Coal Mines and other Geological Products -- Gypsum -- Metallic Minerals -- Salines -- Capt. Boone's Exploration -- 'Salt Plain' and 'Salt Rock' -- Mr. Sibley's Visit -- Saline Exudations -- Unhabitableness of the high Prairies -- Excellent Pasturage -- Rich border Country sufficient for two States -- Northern Texas -- Rivers of the Prairies -- Their Unfitness for Navigation -- Timber -- Cross Timbers -- Encroachments of the Timber upon the Prairies -- Fruits and Flowers -- Salubrity of Climate, 237 CHAPTER XXVII {XI of Vol. II} ANIMALS OF THE PRAIRIES The Mustang or Wild Horse -- Capturing him by 'Creasing,' and with the Lazo -- Horse-flesh -- The Buffalo -- Its Appearance -- Excellence of its Meat -- General Utility to the Indian and Traveller -- Prospect of its Extinction -- Hunting the Buffalo with Bow and Arrows, the Lance, etc. -- 'Still-hunting' -- The Buffalo ferocious only when wounded -- Butchering, etc. -- The Gray Wolf -- Its Modes of killing Buffalo -- Their great numbers -- A 'Wolf scrape' -- The Prairie Wolf, or 'Jackal of the Prairies' -- The Elk, Deer and Bear -- The Antelope -- The Bighorn -- The Prairie Dog -- Owls and Rattlesnakes -- The Horned Frog -- Fowls -- Bees, etc., 259 CHAPTER XXVIII {XII of Vol. II} ABORIGINES OF AMERICA