Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-01-27

""u udPPiheSS tiiat followed, are lett to thdlIn.
aglna,lon of the reader.
GENERAL w AsHINGToN was indeed the haaa-
soonest young .loaper,' whose mysterious ap-
| pearance and disappearance in the native vii
lage OF the lovers, is still faditionary-.-and
whose claim to substantial body of bona fae
flesh and blood, was stoutly contested by the
village story-,ellers, until the happy DENouNce-
MENT which took place at the hospitable man.
sion Of Colonel Carroll.
condor lxunt OH the Plains Of Chilli.
From the Log-bp6k of sailor.
Every one has heard Of the Condor, or Great
'ulture OF the Andes. The fayori,e abiding
place Of this formidable bird is along chain
OF mountains in the southern continent, whose
submits, lifted far above the clouds, are robed
In SHOWS which a torrid sun may KISS but new
or mclt. Above all animal life, and beyond the
limits OF even mountain vegetation, these birds
delight to dwell, inhallng an air too highly at
! tenuated to be endured unless BY creatures pc.
culiarly adapted TO it. From the crown of
these immense elevations, they slowly and la
ziiy untold their sweeping pinions on the ele-
ment, and wheeling in wide and ascending cir
cles, they soar upwards into tho dark blue
vault OF heaven, until their great bulk dimin-
ishes to the mercst speck, or Is entirely lost 10
the aching sight Of the observer.
| In these pure fields Of ether, unyisitcd even
by the thunder cloud, which may be regarded
as his own exclusive domain, the Condor de-
lights TO sail, and with piercing g lance to sur
iVey the surface of the earth, towards which
he never stoops unless at the call Of hunger.
Surely this power TO watt and 10 sustain h I'M
self III the loliest regions Of the air---his abb
Ility to endure, uninjured, the exceeding cold
attendant upon such remoteness from the earth
and to breathe with ease in an atmosphere Of
such extreme rarity---together with the keen
ness Of sight that from such vast heights can
minuey sean the object below, as well as the
! formidable powers Of this bird, when the herds
are scattered before him; were sufficiently add
mirAblo 10 en,itle the Condor to our attention,
and give US promise of goody sport in the APP
preaching Condor Or Lasso Hunt.
| A large landed proprietor, a descendant OF
some of the early Spanish patentees to whom
we have been indebted on many occasions FOR
abundant supplies Of fruit and provisions, as
well as for numberless ciyiliiies, conveyed to
US at length the welcome tidings that the Con.
dor, numerous as the sands of the shore, had
stopped from his sublime domain TO the base
of the mountain, and that the hunt wouldcom.
mence in the morning---lhe sun was scarcely
up in the heavens when we sprang from on
boats; party Of % or 30, to the beach. The
plain before US ran back climbing gently, &c
the base of the hills about one mile distant.
The hunt was np--and the fields in tho dis
lance was dotted with scampering herds Of
cattle, and the groups OF hoTsemen mingled ir
one dusty melee, which lent wings to- ou
speed, as vanitng into our deep Spanish sad
idles---prepared by our worthy host, we spran.
onward to the field Of blood .--Impcllcd by thu
cravings Of ress'less appetite, the Condor. re
CARELESS OF danger, pressed forward to assai
the numerous herds Of the plain, while th'
watchful owners had sounded the alarm, thu
frequent population was out as well to protec
the cattle, as to hunt the mountain bird--th
Chilian's manly pastime.
From the midst OF canopy Of dust, sprea'
widely over the plain, there came forth sount
Of noisy conflict, resembling the heavy cur
rent Of ''foughten feld;" and mountain AM
hill side were shaken by the shouts of thu
hunters, tho tramp Of the scampering horse
men, and the believing of enraged and alright
ed cattle. The Condor, rapid as the Casso
way Of the desert, pursued in silence his desti
ned prey. As we rapidly approached, we per-
ceived one of the oxen bursting from the Yves.
tern extremity of the cloud Of dust, lashing his
bleeding side with his tail, his blood shotten
eyes starting wildly from their sockets, foam
ing at the mouth, and believing with pain.
With wonderful unity of purpose ne alone
+ was closely pursued by the whole flock Of
birds, who, disregarding all other animals
seemed to follow, as with single will, this
stricken one, who is cautiously avoided on all
sides by his terrified companions. Like all
greparious birds, the Condor appeared TO have
a leader who rushing at their head into the
midst of the herd, pounccd with his greedy
lbeak upon this devoted animal, the latest ant
sleekest Of the multitude, and tore piece O
flesh from his side. Attracted by the sight o.
the scent of blood, the whole flock, like brood
of harpies, joined in the mad pursuit. Swift
of foot as the heetest racer, they kept close Il
his side, ever and anon striking with unerrin.
sagacity at his eyes.
Tell me not of the gladiators of martha
Rome, or of the taudidors of Modern Seville
they were pastmes for children compared will
the thrilling excitement Of the Condor Hun
on the plains Of Chill. Away they Aed---ant
away we hurried in The chase. A Thousand
horsemen were wheeling in rapid pursuit.
thousand cattle, terrified and frantic, swept O.
yer the plain---and thousand Condors ming
led in the crowd---un,il, by the rapid move
ment, OK and Condors were again hidden from
the view in the clouds ofdust. A long shout
attracted 10 10 the scene Of conflict. Bursting