Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-11-14

Correspondence of the New Orleans Bee.
A NIGHT in MATAMOR AS.

Correspondence OF view OriedHs Dte'J
A NIGHT IN MATAMORAS.
AT least two thirds of the population of
Matamoras sleep in the open air, in the
court.yards and upon the top Of houses, u
majority OF which have fat.roofs. When
the hour for retireing arrives, which is gen.
orally speaking much earlier than in the
larger cities Of The United States, they pull
their COTS out into the courtyard (every
house Of any size here has n large yard in
the reor) and two or three dozen. male and
female, sleep in one enclosure. Those who
have not coats or the means OF procuring
them. make very comfortable bed upon
the bricks with which most oil those yards
are paved. The great majority Of Mex.
cans rise early, frequently before the sun,
but they sleep again in the evening, from
nv dinner, there are seven or eight
houses, the front rooms OF which are strew-
ed with cots (bedsteads are used only as
ornaments here) upon which senior, senore,
senortas and all the little ords are mapping
off at beautiful rate. Amongst the over
three until half past FIVE o'clock. In fact,
they are as regular in their siesta as you
are in your dinner, and when returning,
particular people Of your country, lady
would no more think Of sleeping, in a room
fronting thoroughfare, with the window
blinds open, than she would OF fly ing. But
here, bless you, they think nothing Of ii.
Why here, young senorlta, will come TO
| the window, and converse with gentle.
man Of her acquaintance with nothing on
but chemise, and think no more OF it than
Camp street gentleman would Of going into
house with his coat of. l can relate to
sou little incident that occurred in my
presence, and in which figured some what
to show YOU how little hold affected mod
esty has taken with the natives.
In the courtyard o! the house in which
| occupy a room, there are from 60 10 80
persons intending the owners family and
his domestics, two other families with their
domestics, with those who rent stores and
rooms from him, and there are very many
who do that, considering tina, building occu.
pies whole square, seven Fights OF whom
sleep in the yards, or upon the roof oil the
house. Men, women and children sleep
within a lew feet Of each other as it they
were one family, and frequently they have
never spoken together. A sonora will pull
off all her upper garments, and lay down
upon her cot within or feet OF gentle.
| 1IIdu "tiuOul SCCiiuS " Vi VA L
whether he is within that many miles. You
must not infer from this that such are bad
women, for if you do you will be frequent
~ deceived. 1t is the manner in which
they have been educated, and the fault is in
lack Of modesty, nothing else.
One night between II and 10 O'Clock.
when all were asleep IN this yard heavy
shower Of rain came on, and you never
saw such a scampering as there was for the
rooms. The early part Of the night was
remarkably warm and sultry, and an unpre
cedented number had gone out to sleep ir
the open air, and some six or seven Ameri
cans had gone on the roof, which they
reached by light ladder from the yard
The first few drops Of rain adnonished MT
to be. up and moving, and had just got m,
cot into my room and was returning TO-
same clothing had dropped in my hurry
when observed senorlta pulling away a
the ladder and endeavorIng to move il.
) quickly comprehended her meaning ant
. quickly went TO her assistance. We reno
we'd the ladder jus, in time to prevent wei
; drenched young man from descending
The others quickly came up to the edge o
the roof with the same intention, and beg
i. ding; but no, we were memorable. Ever
e stitch of our own clothing were wet, an
? we were determined that the joke shoul
0 be carried out. They begged and laughed
r others got wind OF what was going on, an
j. Joined US, and more amusing and ludic
,, rous scene it would be impossible 10 pic
!, ,ure. A, length the cloud passed over, tn
! moon broke forth and a loud roar OF laugh
n ter followed it, for there stood some ha
IS dozen fellows in their shirts and drawers
n some with a blanket under the arm, other
5. with one over them, and one or two with
!. co, under the arm, doubled up so as to pre-
e vent the rain from soaking in II. With tn
is moon shine their good natures returned
!; and they heartily joined in the laugh sxac
h ed at their own expense. The next nigt
d those who were high minded enough
.e roof it, had the precaution to pull the ladds
'e up after them.
I'd Firing of the Mammoth Mortar Canno
ID The great gun lately cast al Ayers fou
il dry, and described in the Post, was fired