Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-06-28
From the N. o. Picayunc.
THE TEXAN SANTA FE
EXPEDITION


tia-Sight Of CamaHche Indians, Dc.
The most pleasant place in Texas,
and perhaps | might say in any part
part of America in possession Of the
Anglo-Saxon race, is San Antonio, or
Bexar as it is perhaps more frequently
called. The San Antonio river, which,
heads a short distance above, mean
ders through tue city, and its limpid
waters, from the different turns it
makes and the irrigating canals, are
brought within convenient distance
OF every door. The temperature of
che water is the same the year round.
is neither too hot nor too cold for bath
ing, and 4 day does not pass without
all the inhabitants enjoying the healthy
and invigorating luxury Of swimming.
We say aIL-for men.women and chill
dren can be seen at any time in the riv-
er,splashing, diving and padding about
likeso many Sandwich Islanders. The
women in particular are celebrated for
their fondness for and skill in aquatic
sports, and are excellent swimmers.
The climate is pure, dry and heal
thy; so much so that the old remark of
eli man wants to die there he must
go somewhere else" appears specially
to apply to San Manufacturing the
summer months a cool and delicious
breeze is blowing, bringing comfort
and health. As but liulerain falls the
tich and fertile bottoms Of the roman
tic riverare watered by irrigating ditch
es. which take the pure waters of the
San Antonio in every direction.
By far the greatest curiosities in the
neighborhood Of the city are the Ms
Sims. Before describing these inn
mense establishments it is necessary
for me to state that early after the set
dement, Of Mexico ,one Of the chief oh
jects Of its policy was connected with
the extension Of the authority Of the
Roman Catholic church. The con-
version Of the Indian and the promul-
cation Of Christianity were interviewer
with the desire ofwealth and an appa-
rent religious fervor. However wan
ting in that true feeling Of piety with
which sucIt objects should be sought,
they produced some of the most re-
INarkable incidents in the history OF
the country. The new doctrines were
first inculcated by force and cruelty,
but subsequently, in a more humane
temper, by allowing the superstitions
Of the Indian to mix with the rites in
troduced among them. And 10 this
day, the anomalous consequences OF
this policy are to be seen in the Indian
ceremonies, some of which | will des-
cribe when ! shall hereafter speak Of
our journey through the states of Qua
hajuato and Mexico. For the Pur-
pose, however, of afording protection
10 the Roman Catholic missionaries,
there were established at various times
settlements which still bear the name
Of Missions. They are very numer-
Gus throughout California, and in Tex
as there are several. The Alamo al
San Antonio was one Of much impor-
lance, and there were Others, hardly
Of less consideration, in the neighbor-
hood called the Missions Of Concep-
cion, Of San Juan, San Jose and La
Esbada. All of them were most sub
stantiaIIy built; the walls are Of great
thickness and in their form and ar
fangementthey were frontier iortresses
They have generally, though not al
ways, church at the side of square
having one entrance. On the outside
they present the form Of a blank square
wall. In the interior they had large
granary and the outside wall formed
the back Of q series OF dwellings it
which the missionaries and their con-
Verts lived. There was a large ap-
preparation Of the surrounding district
FOR the purpose ofculttvation, through
which small canals were made for the
purpose Of irrigation. Such at least
is the case with those Missions which
have mentioned. The Alamo i:
now in ruins, only two or three OF the
houses ofthe inner square being inhab-
Ned,-The gateway of the church wa
much ornamented and still remains,
though deprived of the figures which
once occupied its inches. But there
isenough still to interest the inquirer
Of its former history, even if he could
Tor a moment forget the scenes which
have made il celebrated in the history
of Texan independence. About two
miles lower down the San Antonio riv-
eris the Mission Of Conception. L
IS very large stone building, with q
hne cupola, aud though plain build.
ing is magnificent in its dimensions
and the durability Of IFS construction
1t was here that Bowie fought Que o
the first battles with the Mexican for
ces, and it has not since been inhabi
ted. Though not so we'll known Il
fame as other conflicts this fight wa
That which really committed the Tex
ans and compelled those VINO i,iH T;;; :.
oil terms and the maintenance of Mex
lcan connection to see that the tim
Tor both had passed. The Missiol