The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-27

not have been so bad; but fve-no one could an
swer for what our mission might be. We might be
spies. He might offend his most excellent govern
ment; and he gave most awfully solemn shake Of
the head He must have seen the effect of that
shake on us, flor nearly took away our breath as
he offered US seat and Paraguay cgar--which
gave us courage, and the letter to Don Andres Gil
was produced. We were asked if we were mer-
chants An indistinct idea of the peccadilloes Of
those connected with the nutmeg trade crossed US;
but that, we concluded he never could have heard
of and we answered that some had that avoca-
ton in mind, but that, before venturng to an
unknown country, we wished to see its wants, and
know what would SELL Our letter was urged as
proof of our being good men and true; and after
much discussion and smoking, il was agreed that
we should write TO the government, stating the OBJ
ect of our Journey soliciting passport and also TO
Don Andres Gil. The latter was strongly urged to
favor and second our petition, and our letters were
written and despatched accordingly. We received
a present of half dozen cigars apiece, which en-
boldened to ask to be allowed to cross the river,
and there remain for the answer. This was grant
ed, and our friend the general said we might go
with him, as he had to review the troops on that
side So far, the only Paraguayans that we had
seen were the general and his guard; and them on
ly late at night and early in the morning. We were
soon ready TO embark in canoe made from one
enormous tree, when down marched the general
with his guard and boats crew. Boatmen and
solaers were all clothed ake IN white cotton shirts
aaS p onaaa nGil ha's we wole, anu
Quaker-ike responsibility; but here the idea was
forcbe that the last Paraguay peep at the ashiona-
PIC w1ilu was uu1ri'g 'ne uine o. olg crowns ana
and six sailors took their oars, with bel-crowned
of 1905. and the general 4 yerv nor,lv nerson.
age. with n LARGER hal tban anv and = coat The
cuffs extending nearly 10 his ebows the collar n
His ears and the TN as lou 40 h;s Lnaes .nJ
as wide as two hands; pantaloona pretty full
new and curious We swallowed onr ia,eb,er ana
found that the general was clever rood natnred
fat soul and NOT disnosed 10 have ,,s hhk his a;o
nlty yerv imposino So we got along yerv use
barring the detention-got into The canoe and were
landed at the town of Itapau within The nrecincts Of
the ancient vice-royaty of Paraguay. and were
told where we could lodge. We foIlowed the SOL
diers, who took our saddles and trans 10 a yerv
comfortable rancho or mud house. and 10 anx;ons
INQUIRIES as TO the time in which we mich, Ievnoct
an answer to despatch sent N Asmnc;nn ws ,psre
answered that in eight or ten davs ,,,e would knn,
our fate; and in the mean time we were lef 10 make
ourselves as comfortable q. host ,ye con,d ,,h ~
knowledge that whenever one Of ms NM our fee, ON,
of doors soldier quietly followed us doubtless n
keep an eve on our observations. We ,berefore
nm CON In keen onie, aud ,,reach !,
each other patience. We were on the north bank
Of the Parana. that here il yerv shallow and near
two miles wide. The town OF Itnnan was alwavs
under Francia a military station and was now Xii
of bel-crowned soldiers. of which. on both SIDES of
the river. there were about oO(() armed with INNS.
kets and 100 with lances A -"
Ero,.;, .,,,,., n,;.;, :..-,D
49,. n.. anuo'Paleu a a ii'Vasloh OF fara-
,5a"ay ,,hana .h e anu Tue ohy
III o Iouiu eiuss inc riVer' rs at tnis
E u.1 ~ T1 ues'royea lne mission es'aD
es"a ~ anu was prepared 70 de-
tis Pasaase WIN iorce' ana as me army
,.,a.,Ia q. I II" a;ms 'eIy supply WIN mem,
c,,,.,d go. h.,e I.'.. , ma. We nelc
ho 1 ,'u s anu wen oisc'phnea
- s.t,s nau c., yeals m service, put ~
- shnsi' anu ai,osether
n'uge servlceaole man the nrazians we
river we had no onnoruny Of ;ndnlen o',r
ostv in convers;ng With hin, ,eoa d. III? o,n,.
and we nassed seven da % 6on, ~ -, ~
and making observa,;ons nm ,be ,rs,,;,;a ,oaas of
all the mechanics we met xy;,b T,hn sadars sear,
ed TO he nm industrious act as al ~ ,hor had ,ha
hut and patch Of ground. taste for aowers was
The 6rs, thing ,ve observed a.. l,,, III ~ 49,, ~
their myrtles and iessam;nrs PLANTED ~, ,he Jo"r
The country near ne town Is nartlv cnvered With
Eoresta If large and n n. unknou ,sas and a,i,,
small farms, INT we were ;neo,road - ,',a ar,a.
wards fonnd N he the case tha, H. or
and near tbe river were soIders ha' f,r,es ,ou.
eminent nrob;b;,nc anv yeI sa,,I.,s
dt0fa xxrac
devoted to ca,te estates np ,,;,s uss , was
and few can mag;ne onr o, han ~ os
into tour and ,,o ,ora ;ffos,,ad r.,
had heor gran,eJ y. ~ 80 - hS .a. p .,u
over Tic pres;den, had ordarad ~, e
~ ,b.t c;,,, =, eo,orrn,,,, '' -. 70
rroa, sn3 ~. S,;s,,an I'M, i our Joy was
Rus saa so,,. o,,r;a,,s Ia s ~ s1
Il i most nroh.hlo ,ha, /, ,ras III r., ,, = u
n,a, hoara 49,, ,;.,e , w s. une my
Of NOT had ;m',a,ion If NJ lin, Csny,S ,,hss
oho", and ,,,rn ahn,', w. haa ~ NV wn .'I
LnJnsss a,hnnnh h., ~ ha,,a aa ar
and ~ al nvsr 80 go IN, Ooss -
gran,od c. ,n .,,o..,,, dso.,.' 'aI was
,,o,,a,od GA ~ ,,r 90 - r.. i:. us
49, ~. as ~ pa, - ui.go nus lo1 hsun,
ao ~ ny ~. ,se'' aoo'' ono huiiufeo
's"s uae
Our hrst days ride was through level prairie
country, enureiy devoted to estates OF cattle and
horses, which we met IN great numbers, both much
smaller than those OF our country. y was winter,
put we iouna tne sun very warm, and the heat OPP
pressive. Being on the regular route between the
capital and the largest and most important military
station we found post horses every few leagues and
nNypd fract, k.x~, H.