It was a very rich mining district, and many adventurers had flocked to it from Spain.

There was here a narrow valley of the Rio Grande about ten miles in extent, and quite well filled with the rude settlements of the miners.

It is said that at one time there were nearly seventy thousand Spaniards and Indians scattered along the river banks in search of the precious metals.
A trading party was bound from Santa Fe to this region.

Colonel Trammel was the leader of this party, and he eagerly secured the services of Kit Carson, who, in addition to his experience as a traveller, could also perform the functions of an interpreter.

We have no record of the incidents which occurred on this journey.