The daily union., 1846-10-23

of fair complexion, commenced the sefNse ~
spnnkling holy water over the eongreganon. whe
abreast OF the general he extended his SILVER "aief
spout, and gave him handful
When fayorlie abr would be struck, the younl
women--Ihose that we had recognised as hguring
the fAndango, counted their beads tossed tlei
heads, and crossed themselves, at the lime OF m'
music. -
vice was grave and impressive; and thought IL was
the very religion for the people present. ana niupn
more decent and worthy Of Gods Temple, li'ai
many Of the ranting, bowling dlseoarseS we nave
home.
All appeared 70 have just efl their work to come
10 church. There was no hne dressing or persona
display, that will not be seen on week days IN
deed, on returning from church, we found all the
stores open, and the market women seliing 'hei'
melons and plums, as usual
The fruit Of this Observation-Disclosures, apples, and
plums--is very indifferent, and would scarcely DC
eaten in the States. To this ! nusi except the
aprisot, which grows in perfection
I,saying the narrow valley OF the saata Sc, which
varies from a thousand feet to mile Or TWO IN
width Won reach barren hills, utterly incapable,
from soil and climate, Of fproduelng anything:
The valley is entirely cnltiyOted by irrigation,
and is, as you will see on the sketch, now covered
with corn. ooo ooo.
and they are, il is said the poorest people OF any
The houses are Of mud bricks, Ia the Spanish
style generally of one story, and built on square
The interior Of the square Is an open court anu ,he
principal rooms open into IT, They are ioroiading
in appearance, from the outside, %, onse 10, anu
nothing can exceed their comfort and convenience
The thick walls make them cool IN summer, and
they say, warm IN winter
The better class Of people are all provided with
excellent beds, and have furnturei but the lower
class who are in fact but seris, are very destitute,
and sleep chiefly on skins untanned.
The women here, as IA all other parts OF the
world. app ar TO be much before the men IN refine
ment, intelligence, and knowledge OF the useful arts
The better class dress like the Auerican women,
except they wear instead Of the bonnet, scarf over
the head. This they wear asleep, or awake, in the
house, or out Of IT,
Tht dress Of the lower class OF women, is a simple
petiicoat with arms and shoulders bare, except what
may happen to be covered by the reboso.
The men who have means TO do so, dress after
our fashion; but by far the greater number, when
they dress at all, wear leather breoches, tight round
the hips, and open from the knee down; and shirt
and blanket takes the place Of our coat and vest.
The city is dependant on the distant hills for wood,
and at all hours Of the day may lie seen iackasses
coming laden with wood, which is sold at two bits
or Is cents por load. They the most dim'nutive
little creatures aud generally mounted from behind,
after the fashion Of cap-frog. Il is the enly animal
that subsisl in this barren region without the
expense. Our norscs utc VII StAt W us
lance, IL, Is, and 30 miles 10 grass.
Grain was very high when we FIRST entered the
town, selling freely at IS and 80 the fanegan (l4O
pounds) As our wagons draw near, and the crops
Of wheat are being gathered, il is gradually falling
to four dollars the fanegan.
Milk sells at six cents the quart. Eggs, too, for
the sum; sugar IS cents per pound, and coffee
rs cents The sugar used in the country Is princi-
paly made from the cornstalk.
great reduction must now take place IN the price
Of dry goods and groceries20 per cent at least for
this about the rate of duty charged by Armijo,
which is now, of course, taken of. He collected an
nually some $4,000 or 10000 dollars, principally,
indeed entirely, on goods imported over land from
the United States. His charge was 600 dollars the
wagon load, without regard to the contents of the
wagon. s aF...t. .....
MnAlrarcz, our respectable consul here, informed
me, that the mportatiohs from the United States,
through New Mexico, varied very much; but that
he thought they would average about half million
yearly, and no more. Many of the wagons 90 on
10 chihuahua without breaking their loads.
New Mexico contains, according to the last CEN
sus, made few years ago, 100 900 inhabitants. IL
Is divided into three departments-the northern, the
middle, and the southeastern These are again sub
divided into counties, and the counties into towns
The lower, or southern is incomparahly the richest,
containing $4,000 inhabitants many Of whom are
rich, in the possession of farms stock, and gold
dust ., ..
The statistics and resources of this whole country
will defer entering into until my return from the
SOUTH .,.t.. '.a.E ...
This country, although poor and barren, unless
the gold mines should be more extensively deyei-
oped is Of great interest to the United States, and
nl-imporant to her to possess. The road from here
TO Fort Leavenworih presents no obstacle for rail
way, and If II continues good to the Pacific, will
be the route over which the United States viii pass
immense quantities of merchandise into what will,
at Hax nf
Sehora, Durango, and Southern California.
As military possession, if is important and me-
cessary. Its mountain forresses have long been the
rereating place Of the wake parties Of the Indians
and robbers that sally out TO intercept our cara
vans, moving the different lines Of travel to the
Pacific. m sasa Ia
Another event of the day must not omit to
menton-,he ball given at the palace by the general
on Thursday night. Ii was well attended by all the
principal people Of the town, Madam Tula inclu-
ded, and kept up to late hour. The American
colilion was danced once or twice. but soon gave
way to the coona, the boeso, and the Italian
Every variety Of figure introduced in the dance;
but the waltz was the basis of all, except the boeso
which, as danced here, resembles our negro Jig
My friend Lieutenant Cribbon, Of the artillery, has
noted some of the music, which may be that Of the
time Of the conquest | send few Of the airs some
OF which are pretty, and when get back to WASH
lngton, hope to find them in vogue.
HuguN Jid--Lleutenant warner arrived. to-
day, with the wagon train of ordnance stores; but
the General cannot yet relieve him froin the duty.
Tomorrow a small expedition goes to Taos; but
Lieutenant Peck being sick, l have not an officer to
send with it, "
To-day, pretty well authenticated accounts have
arrived that Armijo, having met Ugarle advancing
up the Del Norte with 500 regulars and several
pieces of artillery, returned with, and is now rally
ing his forces In the lower country to tie amount Of
four or five thousand; and il is said that numbers
are joining him from the upper towns. In conse-
quence the general has strengthened the army with
which he is to meet him, with a his disposable
force. HaE as'st
We march day after tomorrow; and shall turn
over the construction of the fort to Lieutenant Gil
mer and leave Lieut. Peck to assist him, as he IL
still unable to ride. t.s
Extract Of letter, dated September 49, 1886, received
al ne Department Of Stale, from Charles Grasbe,
consul Of the United States for The Grand Duehy Of
Hsse Dmrnstadt, &c.
~ have to-day to report, that the duties on all
kind Of -four, or manufactured grains and egumes,