Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-07-24
Scenes i'm the Suburbs of MatnmOras.

After you get over the ferry, you have an open
and picturesque road before you of nearly half a
mile TO the city of Matamoras. Much to inter-
est presents itself, for every thing, to American
eyes, is unlike "the familiar road side" The
hedge of small cotton field, now broken down
in Places is worthy of attention, for it is charac-
teristic of the fences of the country. There be-
ing no timber to split into ''rails," the Mexican
cannot disfgure the landscape with those awful
''worm fences" that so mar our own fields; on
the contrary, he plants with some care the thorn
bushes and delicate brush that every where grows
spontaneously, strengthening ngthem withthe trunks
of the palm tree. thousand vines and wild
flowers soon tresse over this "breaswork," bin
ding it together in solid mass; tropical birds with
gay plumage, bury themselves in its interstices.
A Mexican hedge, therefore, soon becomes for
midable defence against a foe, defes the most
viciousy disposed cattle intruders, offers shade
at noon and is the place Of resort for all the gay,
the musical and the beautiful of the feathered
tribe. A large species of black bird will much
attract attention. 1t seems very tame and famil-
iar apairwould generally be seen together noun
ted on some high limb, and performing a series
of bowings and contortions truly wonderful to
behold, throwing their heads into the air, burying
them under their wings, then turning their feath-
ers up with all imaginable roughness, and giving
utterance to the strangest varied scream ever
heard, the conclusion of which is like the whiz-
zing, crashing sound made by the breaking off
and falling of a heavy limb of q tree. Birds
with pale ashy plumage, and tails resembling
those denominated "birds of paradise" fitted a.
bout, and miniature dove, not larger in its body
than a robin, pecked modestly in the dust,-the
most beautiful and oveable bird we ever saw.
This hedge led to Mexican farmers cottage,
that was facing close upon the road, and as it re-
presents its class, it is worth examination. The
walls of it are made of reed, about three or four
inches thick, and ingenuously held together by
others running crosswise, not unlike rude basket
work. The rafters of the house are made of gi-
gantic reed, thatched most securely from admit
ting the rain, by long salt marsh grass cut about
the mouth of the Rio Grande. There were no
windows-two doors, situated on either side, ad-
nit all the light and air the inhabitants indulge in.
1t was mere lodging room after all in rainy
weather, for the Mexcans of the poorer classes
liue out Of doors, sleep under the shade of their
stunted trees, upon the door steps of their rude
houses. The house is ''a mere form" equally
enjoyed by hens and chickens, pigs, goats, feas,
and other domestic animals. The "kitchen gar
den" looked inviting, though in waste,-spendid
figs were ripening upon a wilderness of luxuriant
trees,-pomegranit with their russell sides, met
the eye,-tall green corn, of the best quality,
waved in the constant tbreeze,-and, onthe ground,
there ripened in modest obscurity, good looking
squashes that in size seemed to show near rela-