Besides this unfortunate affair, nothing worthy of note transpired, beyond the general record of their route, during the remainder of their journey.  The latter would be too voluminous for the general reader, and has already served its purpose as an assistant to other exploring parties, both from published account and conversational directions.  The party entered Santa Fe in the month of November.  Very soon after, Kit Carson left his companions and proceeded to Fernandez de Taos, a Mexican town, which lies about eighty miles to the northeast of the capital of New Mexico.  During the winter that followed his arrival in the territory of New Mexico, Kit lived with an old mountaineer by the name of Kin Cade, who very kindly offered him a home.  It was at this period of his life that he commenced studying the Spanish language.  His friend Kin Cade became his assistant in this task.  At the same time Kit neglected no opportunity to learn all he could about the Rocky Mountains.  He little thought, then, that these earth-formed giants were to become his future home, and so gloriously to herald his name throughout the entire civilized globe.

The pinching effects of want now attacked poor Kit.  He could obtain no employment.  His expectations in this respect, as well as his earnest efforts, received so little encouragement that he began, finally, to despond.  Extreme poverty is a wet damper on the fires of the best genius; but, as was the case with Kit, it does not effectually put it out.  Kit saw with sorrow that he must retrace his steps.  To obtain means to carry out his ardent desires, in the spring of 1827 he started on a backward trip to Missouri.  Every step he took in this direction was accompanied with such displeasure, that had it not been his best and surest policy, he would have mastered any difficulties of another and better course, had such offered.  Four hundred and fifty miles from Santa Fe, being about one half the distance across the prairies, had been accomplished by the party Kit had joined for this homeward trip.  The fording of the Arkansas River had been reached.  Here Kit’s party met with some traders bound for New Mexico.  They offered him employment, which he gladly accepted; and, in their company, retraced his steps back to Santa Fe But when arrived at Santa Fe, Kit found himself again without money.  He was afforded an opportunity to obtain a wardrobe, but to the mountaineer, such property would be entirely a superfluity.  He feels nearly independent on the score of clothing, as he considers that he needs but little raiment, and that little he is always proud to owe to his beloved rifle.  This brings to his hand buckskins in plenty, and his own ingenuity is the fashion-plate by which they are manufactured into wearable and comfortable vesture.  There is one article of clothing, however, for which the frontiersman feels an ardent predilection.  It is a woollen shirt.  This article, Kit really needed; and, in equal pace with his necessity, ran his anxiety that