Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-06-13
From the Savannah Republican,

matamoras.-An lnteresting sketch.
The plan of Ma,amoras is very similar to !
tha; of Savannah. Tho streets are not wide,
but run at right angles, and there are several
public squares, which give an airy appearance
to the pl,ce. The houses OF Matamoras are
built Of clay and twigs, there being in 1898 not
more than twenty or thirty brick buildings in
the place. These latter are mostly in the vi.
cinity Of the squares and have been erected BY
foreigners. The ground in the rear ofthe city
is subject to inundation during the wet season
To the depth Of several feet, and the subsidence
of the waters leaving the Like marked upon
the maps. 1t is Of considerable depth and ex.
tent, and it's waters are used by the washer.
women Of the place. who congrcgatc there in
considerable numbers to ply their vocation. II
is also the general resort of the citizens. male
and female, who repair thi,her in great numbers
for the purpose of bathing during the spring
and summer months. This is a peculiarity
with tho Mexicane, and strange as it may seem
10 some, thcse common ablutions Of the sexes
are not regarded as in the slightest degree i'm.
proper or indeicate. The only difference be.
tween that country and this is that the beaux
and bellies make their pleasure excursions in
and under the water. instead Of in ssi.boats
and steamboats,; and the one is regarded and
spoken Of with the same delicacy of language
and purity Of purpose as the other. What ty.
rant is custom
The population Of Ma,amoras, our informant
thinks, was in 1894 about seven thousand. Pri.
or to that time considerable trade in dry goods
had been carried on with the interior towns
Durango, Monterey, &c, and with the Indians
| In this business, several Americans had amas
sed considerable fortunes. Since 1884, the
trade Of the place has fallen of. and the popula
tion di,nnished. II is now mainly sustained BY
the income from the sale of cattle, hides, tallow
mulee. wool, specie, &c. &c. The people are
indolent, and the classes of society very distinct
The best class. the descends mis- of the old Span
isrds. is very limited and exclusive. They are
iolersbly well educated-the men being gener
ally in the public offices or the army, and tht
females engaged in light and plessurable pur
suits and amusements. such as dancing, waltzing
4 playing the guitar, &c, &c. They are bu
lmi:edly educated, and many Of them canno
write their own language, though they speak |
with auency and elegance. They are fond o
dress, are generally tastcfnlly arrayed, and arr
graceful and easy in their manners Thoug|
chairs are common in their parors, our inlor
mant says that i, is not uncommon in the bes
circles to zee the beautiful dark eyed senor
seated upon the carpet and surrounded by
hevy of dark. haired, moustacheod admirers.
The women Of the lower classes are NOR
homely though scarcely less attractive in the
: appearance The domestics are in a state
more ahject slavery. infinitely. than our negroe
They are Aagella,cd numerically, and as III
mltimoium Of disgrace, are sometimes compe
: led to submit to have their hair shorn close
: The head As the howing hair Of the Mcxica
s women is regarded as her greatest ornament
Is the priv.,ion of II considered as the create
indiguity and punishment. .1ss-2 .os.-
' In regard to the Mexican soldiers, our Info
I msnt says, they are men If small stature,
n light muscular frame, exceedingly homely
o their appearmce--poor soldiers, but bold Al
}. fearless riders. They are not constant in the
e sttachmenis-Rgh, for pay. and viii follow Il
n leader who feeds and pays them best. The
:, have displayed SHINE courage in their loc
S fights, particularly when kniees and stilett
! were used, bnt have a great aversion to fir
= arms. especially is close quartets Acting
d large bodies, they are easily confused even
Il their common military displays. and consequer
!, ly would suffer greatly from sudden and VI
l. crous attack in general engagement. O'
;, ing tn the unsettled condition Of the countr
d and the luw pay in the army, they are relucia
q To enter the service. On this account Il
y schemes and devices of their officers TO che
and encourage thrm are sometimes ridiculo
= enough The preparations for celebrating
g victory are often made in anticipation, and SON
d times, ss was The case In the late conflict wi
- the Americans, fall with the prisonets and III
r. nitions of war into The hand, of the enemy,
,r fording them at once victory and the fscilit'
70 for It's celebration. fheit food consists n,air
i. Of the ioftiiia or corn cake, baked in ashes, q
is beet, with which they use large quantities
e. chik colorado. or Mexican rcd pepper "h'
IN also use extensively for focd species o s"'
I'd red bean called JrVoia. Their lorses
small, weakly subssted, frequently 80 feeble
IS 10 tall PROSTATE under their bssesge ana r'd'
while he 10 in the act Of mo,s,i'ng. Mu'es
N very abundant at Mstam're-, and ola guam
ID, superior to any rsi"s upon the eon''ae'