Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-06-11
From the Savannah Republican.
MATAMORAS.
An Interesting Sketch.


visit 10 this city and the surrounding country,
we have taken some trouble TO gather few
particulars in regard to it, " hich will be of in
'erest TO them as we'll as TO The general reader
OurJnormaht is a gentleman of intelligence,
who resided in the place for four years. from
1884 TO 1888, and who, from his connection
with the public press, had ample means of ac-
qurlng Information. we'll as strong induce.
ments 10 familiarize himself with men, manners
and places.
Our informant recognizes The general correct
ness of the maps which have recently been pub
lshed. The positions of the CRY, of the Amer
lean Army, &C., are all correctly represented
The Bluff upon which Gen. Taylor's Camp is
located, is some Ten or twenty feet higher than
The ground on which the city is built The
current ol the river at this point is exceedingly
sluggish, and its course so toru0us betw cen
Malamoras aud the Gulf, that 1t has been found
impossible 10 ascend ii with sailing vessels
When our informant was there, goods were not
landed at Point Isabel, but at the mouth of the
Rio Grande, and thence were carried TO Mala-
moras IN carts drawn by oxen. HI is under
the impression that The Custom House al Point
Isabel, has been recently sIablished-perhaps
since the loss of the sleamboa, which was en-
gagged in the trade during his residence at Mat
amoras. Barrita, the place spoken of as The
destination of an expedition by boals, on the
river, he says is mol village, but only few
Indifferent houses at the ferry, which is half
way between the Gulf and the city
The plan of Maamoras is very similar 10
that of Savannah. The streets are not wide,
but run at right angles, and there are several
public squares, which give an airy appearance
TO the place. The houses of Malamoras are
built OF clay and twiggs, there being in 1888
not more than twenty or thirty brick buildings
in The place. These latter are mostly in the
vicinity of The squares, and have been erected
by foreigners. The ground in The rear Of the
city is subject 10 inundaionsduring the wet sea-
son, 10 the depth of several feet, and The subsi-
dence of the waters leaves the Lake marked
upon the maps 1t is of considerable depth
and extent, and its waters are used by the
washerwomen of The place. who coneregats
there in considerable numbers, 10 ply their vo-
cation. II is also The general resort of The Cit
liens, male and female, who repair hliher IN
great numbers, for the purpose of bathing du-
ring The spring and summer months. This is
peculiarly with the Mexcans, and strange
lions Of The sexes, are not regarded as in the
slighles, degree improper or ndellcae. The
only difference between that country and this
is, that the beaux and bellies make their pleas
ure excursions in and under the water instead
of in sail boats and steamers; and the one is re-
garded and spoken of with the same delicacy
of language nfpuri'y of purpose, as the other.
What tyrant is custom!
The population Of Malamoras, our informant
thinks, was in 1884 about seven thousand
Prior to hat time a 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 amassed considerable fortunes. Since
1884, the trade Of the place has fallen off, and
the population diminished. 1t is now mainly
sustained by the income from the sale Of caue,
hides, 'allow, mules, wool, specie. &c. &c
The people are indolen,. and the classes of So
ciety very distinct The best class, the de-
scendants of the old Spanards, is very limited
and exclusive. They are iolerably well edu-
ca'ed-the men being generally in the public
Offices or the army, and the females engaged in
light and pleasurable pursuits and amusemens,
such as dancing walizing, playing the guitar,
&c. &c. They are bu! limiledly educated, and
many of them cannot write their own language,
though they speak i, with Auency aud elegance.
They are fond of dress, are generally taslefully
arrayed, and are graceful and easy in their
manners. Though chairs are common in their
parlors, our informant says that il is no, uncom-
mon in The best circles, 10 see the beautiful
dark eyed signora seated upon the carpet and
surrounded by bevy OF dark-haired, mus
lacheod admirers.
The women Of The lower classes are more
homely though scarcely less attractive in shejI
appearance. The domestics are in state of
more abjeci slavery, infinitely, than our pegroes
They are fagellated numerically, and as the
uhtmatum Of disgrace are sometimes compelled
TO submit to have their hair shorn close 10 the
head. As The flowing hair Of the Mexican wo-
man is regarded as her greatest ornament. so is
fhe privaIion of it con>idercd as The greatest
indignily and punishment.
In regard to the Mexican soldiers, our in
formanl says, they are men of small stature, Of
light, muscular frame, exceedingly homely in
their appcarance-poor .olders, but bold and
fearless riders. They arc mol constant III their