Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1821-01-30

sioihP Sdiue OH any Information re
speeding that most Interesting aud unknown
part OF the world. We think Mr.. Rob
inson's work contains much that will graf
ify curiosity on this subject, and on some
points the information he imparts is o
much Importance.
But We must come 10 our extracts
The following will give some idea of the
miserable state Of the unhappy natives
who have SO long been the victims ol
Spanish oppression.
No part Of the earth exhibits such
striking and such monstrous contrasts 81
wealth aud misery, as well in the coupiry
as ~ the cities, as Mexico. We behold
the proprietor Of hacienda, decked 10 a
la style OF The most costly but awkward
grandeur. He has on pair Of country
made boots, which coa him from SO to 100
dollars large spurs, inlaid with gold and
lsilyer; a superb horse, with saddle and
birdie which cost him from $50 to SOC
dollars; a cloak or mangas, richly EN-
lbroidered, and full Of gold and silver
buttons, laces and fringe. He lives 10 a
|spacious house, within whose walls every
llnxury is TO be found that the countr.
4 affords; but when he saliies forth he il
lost amidst group of half naked, badly
lied wretches, whose only dress is sheep
skins if in the country, and in the towr
their shoulders are covered by an old
blanket or sheet serving them for a par
Itial covering by day, and he'd by night
No species Of attention is ever paid by
the lord of the soil to the comforts o,
wants of his tenants or vassals, aud a
more wretched race Of cultivators docs
not exist under the canopy OF heaven
than the Indian laborers on these estates. .
The character Of the Mexican Creole
is thus ably drawn, we hope justly.
The Mexican, mounted on his horse,
on whose speed aud activity he can rely,
places the most unbounded confidence in
Hin. 4 he officers dash III among HE
euemy. and, perfectly regardless how
their men act, seem only intent on setting
them an example Of courage. When COM
PEELED to retreat before superior plumbers,
the Mexican, instead Of jading his favor
lie horse, proportions his flight to the
speed Of his pursuers; and il he perceives
one OF two Of the enemy detached from
shelr main baa iSs he iR pill fase vEatad asa
In short, we know from frequent personal
observation, that no men possess more
innate courage than the Mexican Creole.
He has every necessary ingredient to|
form the soldier; and, as an individual.
seated on his usually high spirited horse,
with his sword and lance, is as formidable
an opponent as any in the world. Butt
for want of discipline and military regu-
lation, the Creoles are Of little use when
embodied, aad can easily be put to the
,rout. Hence the royalists, whose troops
are composed Of artillery and trained in
fantry, besides cavalry, have been enabled
to gain advantages over them; and espe-
cially at the period Of which we are now
treating, when the destnies of the repub-
lie were in the hands of such meu as
Pedre Torres and his commanlants.
This description of the Cieoles is
not peculiar to those of Mexico; but may
with little modification be considered,
we think, as correct one of those of all
the Spanish settlements Oh the American
continent. The natural qualities Of this
race, their inirepidity, their capacity to
endure hardships and privations, their
sobriety, their selfpossession, abstemi-
BUSINESS, are qualities SO we'll calculated
for military enterprise, that the Intelligent
reader will al once perceive that discipline
alone is necessary TO render them, in
their own country and climate, the most
formidable and effective soldiers
The following is an account of the dex-
terity OF the natives ia mode of warfare
which we blieye peculiar to the New
World.
"Lazo is the name Of the rope, for the
use of which the Spanish Americans are
so Justly celebrated. In rustic life, it is
usually applied to the purpose of catching
the stock Of various kinds on farm. A
child of five or six years old commences
his experiments with piece of pack.
thread, and exercises his ingenuity OF
the poultry about the house; afterwards
he attacks the pigs; and as be grows mp
he ventures to throw his lazo upon calves
and colts; and thus, by the time he ar
lriyes at manhood, he has learned to use
it with astonishing precision. II is vel
made rope, Of about an inch in circum
ference aud in length from 10 to Is yards
| @Wild cattle are caught by peasants
mounted on horses trained for that express
purpose; aud to be broken aud trained
to it, is one Of the important requisites
Of Mexican horse. Since the revolu
tion, the iazo has been oiteu resorted t
among flying enemy. An expert throw
er will strike his object almost to Ger
,ainty at a distance Of from eight TO tel