The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-17


"The distance through the Canada, or mountain
de6e, from Monterey the nearest outskirts Of the
plain above, is fourteen leagues. On the farther
side OF this plain, upon the declylty ofa HILL stands
the city Of Sduo. Within the pass the mountains
at times approach rather near others recede per.
haps mile and half from the road. which
winds over bold hills. Towards Monterey
the mountains approach more closely, and a
stream issues from the gorge which irrigaies
the beautiful gardens of the weather. inhab-
rtants, running of below the town, where IL is
drawn to fertlze the little patches OF the Indians
flowing round and about their mud or bamboo huts,
watering the banana, the orange, the pomegranate,
the aguacite, chrimoya and other fruits and vege-
tables of the tropics, which these poor people carry
for sale donkies to Saltillo which, being situated
on the lofty plains Of the table land, only produces
the fruits Of the north-the apple, pear, ounce and
apricot-with their corresponding vegetables. |
trust these poor people will not DO molested for
neither TO them, nor to large classes many grades
above them, to be attributed the ma-administra-
ton Of government in which, being really a mill
tary despotism, they have no more share than the
serfs of Russia.
am certainly not a little surprised at so great
stress being laid upon the difficulties for troops on
march through Mexico in the rainy season. An en-
roneous idea has crept into the public mind that
during this period rain falls almost constantly, rem.
dering the roads deep and impossible. The rainy
season commences IN June, with showers at long
intervals, and does not fairly set in until the middle
and sometimes the latter part Of July, varying from
one year to another in the quantity which falls
much - happens with us from summer to summer
have even known year in which there was not
sufficient rain to produce the slightest spring Of grass
causing the loss of hundreds Of thousands of ami
mails on the great hdcendas devoted 10 rearing them
When the rains most copious, they do not
generally begin until IL or ! O'Clock, dark clouds
rising rapidly over the heavens, giving sudden and
MA nj oh in
early, and leang bright sunset and fine morning.
On two occasions | performed journey OF near
400 leagues over the great mountain ranges OF the
Cordlera, through which flow many considerable
streams, TO Culiacan, near the Pacific, during I'M
usually wet seasons, without having in a single in
stance been caught in the rain. IL was accomplish
ed Ivy rising before day light, and arriving at the
stopping place for the night before the rain began to
fall Water, al other times very scarce IN certain
localities, was found everywhere, good pasture
abounded and the air was cool; the great heat al
ways ubatlng when the periodical rains set IN.
There was exemption, too, from dust; nor did
ind except in rare instances that the roads were
heavy.
| can easily understand how gentlemen acquaint-
cd mostly with the neighborhood of the city Of Mex
leo, and the great road from thence to Guanajuao,
through what is called the bajio should fall into
this mistake. No nconsiderable portion of the val
ley of Mexico may be considered lake imperfectly
drained, since, at foot or two beneath the surface
water is encountered al all seasons. The valley of
the bajo is pretty much Of the same nature 30 that
in both instances the water accumulaes upon the
surface during the rains, and renders the roads
through these districts at times almost impossible
swamps or lakes. But | have seen nothing like
this elsewhere. From Camargo to Monterey, al
though there are intervals of level ground yet for
the most part the road runs over easy hills, and
cannot believe army would meet with any obsa-
Gle of importance-the only difficulty being the pass
age of the river San Juan, which is but small
stream, and can oppose nothing insurmountable if
the troops carry any provision for such an emergen
cy If the rains do not prove very heavy, it will be
found fordable, as | passed it without detention
with loaded wagon.
am, dear sir, truly yours,
f. M. DIMOND.