bell, propped up in a sort of a belfry.  To make a noise on this, a piece of iron, or several stones are used; and, when an attempt at chiming is made, it is very laughable.  The figures representing saints, and even the altar, are a strange compound of imitation.  On the respective days set apart by the Catholic church for worship, marriages and fete services are carried on with a great attempt at pomp, but, under the circumstances, they leave no lasting impression of grandeur, save on the inhabitants, who have beheld nothing beyond their own country.  The dignitary most respected in these towns is the Padre (or Priest), who is looked upon as sacred; and, when so inclined, this class of men have the power of accomplishing much good; but, oftentimes, they pervert this power, setting bad examples in their mode of life, and offering wicked counsel.  However, under the management of the present bishop, who is a very exemplary man, these things are being changed.  The old Priests of New Mexico were formerly educated in Old Mexico.  Their information was very imperfect, and their minds were contracted down to extreme narrowness, from want of observation; hence, they were the means of retarding the natural progress of the people.  It cannot be denied but that the Catholic religion has been the pioneer system in the far West, and that, in the hands of good and pure men, it has done much praiseworthy work, and has set an example which other creeds might and ought to follow.  The valley of Taos is bounded on all sides by lofty mountains, which are but continuations of the Rocky chain.  The boundaries of this valley are very irregular, both in the course they take and in their altitudes.  The valley is about thirty miles wide and some fifteen miles long.  The ground has the appearance, at first sight, of being a plain; but, on closer observation, it is found to contain many ravines, and to bear the appearance of being undulating.  To the west side of it, rolls the Rio Grande, which cuts, for most of the way, through a deep and impassable (for fording purposes) channel.  In the valley, there are but few, if any, trees, which fact gives the villages a barren look.  The mountains about are covered with timber, which is not generally of the first quality for building purposes.  The number of people included within the limits of this valley, it is difficult to estimate; but, about ten thousand would include every living soul.  The occupation of the people is farming.  Raising horses, cattle and sheep is carried on to a certain extent; but most of the large herds of these animals owned in this town are kept at ranches situated at more distant points, where grass is to be had in abundance, and those retained about the villages are only kept for immediate use.  The reason for this is found in the fact that most of this valley is not under cultivation, but is covered with sage bushes.  It is around the skirts of the mountains, that the only valuable grass is found.