The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1846-11-04
FROM SANTA FE.


SANTA FE, Sept. 49, 1876
MEssRs. EDIToRs: On the I'd inst. Gen.
Kearney, with about eight hundred men, left this
town on an excursion South. We went to vii.
Iage called TONNE, about one hundred miles dis
tant. We struck the Rio Grande twenty-seven
miles from this place, at village called San Do
miugo inhabited by the Puebfa Indians. Our
reception at this village was quite grand affair,
the principal and braves OF the tribe met US six
miles from the town, and escorted in; the
braves were mounted on their best horses and
dressed in the most gaudy apparel, and armed
and equipped in the same manner as when they
go out for the purpose of fighting When the
General passed the head of their columns, they
fired off their guns, and then one hle on each
side OF our companies proceeded TO the rear, and
then wheeled and came down close to our line at
the top of speed OF their horses, yelling and go
ing through all the man9uvres OF regular
charge they met again at the head of our col
umns, fired at each other with their pistols, made
passes with their lances, and then filed of and
returned to the head of our companies This
was repeated several times to the great admra-
ton and establishment of all who witnessed it. |
have never seen better horsemen anywhere, and
from what could discover, | should take them
to be formidable in battle, if properly armed
They fine looking men, and much superior in
every respect to the Mexican population. They
have very fine village, most splendid Vineyards,
and appear to be much more comfortable in every
respect than the Mexicans. When we got into
the village, we were invited into the priests
house, where a most sumptuous repast was set
out, consisting OF the best grapes | ever saw,
melons, apples cakes, and with liquor sufficient
to wash them down.
There is at this town, quite an extensive church
to which is attached the priests house, where he
keeps his ,cipes or concubines. The priest at
this place has tour-two of them are quite good
looking. After our repast, the General made a
speech to the citizens. who appeared quite well
pleased they then escorted US out of town, and
we went on our way rejoicing, with full stomachs
and every man with just liquor enough in him to
make him feel patriotic. This was the only In
dian village we visited
The people near the town of Toni, and the in
habitants OF the different villages have heard of
our intended visit, and the General so arranged
our marches as to bring to this town the eve
ming before the anniversary Of their patron Saint,
a great day with the inhabitants of that region OF
country, and assure you it was great day, not
only to them, but to ali Tho were present There
was immense concourse of people, men, wo.
men, children, Mexicans, Indians. and white
folks. They had prepared fire works, which
were gotten up in very good style, the town
was Illuminated, they had theatre, that is,
play in the open yard, which appeared to be well
received by the inhabitants they also had fam
dango, which was not only crowded, but jammed
and crowded to overlooking the beauty and
fashion there, and to my establishment
found some of the women quite handsome. Dur
ing the day there was mass said, and the Yir-
gin Mary was paraded around the Streets follow
ed by the principal men Of the town, and also by
General Kearney and his staff, with lighted can
dies in their hands.
The priest at Toni joined in the waltz and ap-
peared as iovial and as much disposed to partici-
pate in all the amusements any else. The
country south Of this place, (Santa Fe) along the
Rio Grande, is much better than any portion of
the Province have yet twisted yet, in my jugd-
ment, no Mssourian would ever think of locating
any where here for the purpose OF culdvatlng the
SOIL This Province has been overrated, and our
Government has been grossly imposed upon and
deceived, as TO its resources, commerce, &c. Z
shave not seen any thing since my arrival here
that would excite the least desire for TO re-
side here.