On the 20th we continued along the plain to the edge of a lake, on the other side of which was the great Hacienda of Encinillas. On the 21st we came within about 6 miles of Chihuahua, and entered the city the next day. Throughout the whole settled country in the neighbourhood of this city, the greatest fear of the Indians prevailed. All the great Haciendas had suffered from their attacks; and it is dangerous to leave the city but in the company of an armed party. We were told that in 1830 the Haciendas of San Miguel and Baricora, near the Presidio of Buenventura, had more than 12,000 head of cattle and 1000 horses on them, but that they were now desolated. Since these attacks commenced in 1832, it was calculated that upwards of 10,000 persons, of both sexes and of all ages, had perished. Farther to the S. we saw constant evidence of these aggressions, which had been made even into the state of Durango. The frontier, wrhich in the time of the Spaniards had been defended by the Presidios, and which, though the protection which they afforded enabled settlements to be pushed forward into the Indian country, have been neglected, and the Mexicans are actually being driven back to the S. This state of things may not last; but it has been the consequence of an unsettled government, which has hitherto been compelled to concentrate its forces in the interior to sustain itself, while its frontier has been commanded by savages, and its public roads, even its most populous and central districts, have been governed by robbers.

The city of Chihuahua is of considerable extent, and is the capital of the department of this name; but the population is said to be rapidly diminishing. In the centre of a square is a large cathedral, covered with numerous carved figures of saints. A great establishment of the Jesuits remains unfinished. Part of it is used as an hospital, and I occupied one of its rooms, along with some of my party. It was in the square which it forms that Hidalgo, who raised the cry of independence in Mexico, was executed. To the W. of the town is an aqueduct of some extent.

The mining interest in the neighbourhood has suffered, in common with that of other parts of Mexico. We were shown many rich specimens of silver-ore, of mines said to be unworked for want of capital ; but these evidences of their supposed value are very delusive.

The foreign trade of Chihuahua is chiefly dependent on the Missouri trade to Santa Fe, or rather Chihuahua is the chief mart of this trade: so that for the purposes of this trade the best and shortest route is from the United States to Chihuahua, through San Antonio de Bexar, for Chihuahua is to the S. of this town. The distance from St. Louis to Santa Fe is about 1200 miles, and from Santa Fe to Chihuahua about 400 miles.

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Adapted from Thomas Falconer
"Notes on a Journey through Texas and New Mexico, in the Years 1841 and 1842"