The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-01-31

that can be followed in Texas. He had be-
tween seven and eight hundred head of cat
tie, and from fifty to sixty horses, all mus
tangs. His plantation, like nearly all the
plantations in Texas at that time, was as yet
in very rough state; and his house, although
roomy and comfortable enough inside, was
! built of unhewn tree-trunks, in true back
woodsman style. 1t was situated on the bor-
der of one of the islands, or groups of trees,
and stood between two gigantic sycamores,
which sheltered it from the sun and wind.
In front, and as far as could he seen, lay the
prairie, covered with its waving grass and
many -colored flowers; behind the dwelling
arose the cluster of forest trees in all their
primeval majesty laced and bound together
10y an infinity ofwild vines, which shot their
tendrils and clinging branches hundreds of
feet upwards to the very top fthc trees, en-
bracing and covering the whole island with II
green network, and converting il into an i'm
mense bower of vine leaves, which would
| have been no unsuitable abode for Bacchus
and his train.
| These islands are one ofthe most enchant-
| ing features of TeXian scenery. OF infinite
variety aud beauty of form, and unrivalled in
the growth and magnitude of the trees that
compose them, they are 10 be found of all
shapes-circular, parallelograms, heXagons,
/ :
| like dark green snakes over The brighter sur
| face Ofthe prairie. In no park or artiiiciuly
| laid out grounds, would it be possible 10 find
any thing equalling these natural strawberries
in beauty and symmetry. In the morning
and evening especially, when surrounded by
Il sort of light grayish mist, and with the hor-
izontal beams of the rising or setting sun
cleaning through them, they offer pictures
which it is impossible to get weary Ofadmir-
ing.
Mr. Neal was iovial Kentuckian, and he
received us with the greatest hospitality, only
asking in return all the news we could give
him from the States IL is difficult 10 imag-
inc, without having witnessed it, the fevcrish
eageness and curiosity with which all intel
Egence from their native country is sought
after and listened to by these jewellers i'll the
desert Men, and children, crowded
round us: and il was near sunrise
before we could escape from the inquiries by
which we were overwhelmed, and retire TO
the beds that had been prepared for MS.
had not slept very long when was rous-
ed by our worthy host. lie was going out 10
catch twenty or thirty oxen, WHICH were want
Fed for the market at New Orleans. As the
kind of chase which takes place after these
animals is very interesting, and rarely dan
gerous, we accepted the invitation TO accom-
pany him, and having dressed and breakfast
ed IN all haste, got upon our mustangs and
rode off into the prairie.
The party was half dozen strong, con-
sistings of Mr. Neal, my friend and myself
and three negroes. What we had to do was
TO drive the cattle, which were grazing on the
prairie i'll herds of from thirty to fifty head to
the house, and then those which were select
ed for the market were to be taken with the
lasso and sent off to BraZoria.
After riding four or five miles, we came in
sight of II drove, splendid animals, standing
very high, and of most symmetrical FORM
The horns of these cattle are of unusual
length, and in the distance, have more the APP
pearance of stays antlcrs than bulls horns.
We approached the herd first to within a
quarter ofa mile. They remained quite quiz
ct. We rode round them, and in n like man
ner got in rear of second and third drove,
and then began to spread out, so as 10 form u
half circle, and drive the cattle towards the
house.
Hitherto my mustang had behaved exceed
mgly well, cantering freely along, and not
attempting 10 play any tricks. | had scarcely
however, left the remainder ofthe party n
couple of hundred yards, when the devil by
which he was possessed began to wake up.
The mustangs belonging TO the plantation
were grtHing some three quarters of n mile
off: and no sooner did my beast catch sight
| of them, than he commenced practising ev-
cry species ofjump and leap that it is posi-
, BILE for horse to execute, and many of ma
tlre so extraordinary, that ] should have
thought that no brute that ever went on four
legs would have been able to accomplish
them. He SHE'D, reared, pranced, leaped for
wards, backwards, and Sideways in short
played such internal FRANKS that, although n
practised rider, found itno easy matter to
keep my seat. I'began heartily to regret that
, had brought no lasso with me, which would
have tanned him at once, and that, contrary to
Mr. Meals advice, had put on my American
bit instead of u Mexican one. Without these
auxiliaries all my horsemanship was useless.
The brute galloped like mad creature some
five hundred yards, caring nothing for my eff
forts to stop him; and then finding himself
=, close to the troop of mustangs, he stopped
, suddenly short, threw his head between his
, forelegs, and his hind feet into the air, with
, such vicious violence, that was pitched clean
out of the saddle Before well knew where
, / was, / hal the satisfaction of seeing him
put his feet on the bridle,pul bit and bridoon
. out ofhis mouth, and then, with neigh of.
/ exilltation, sprung into the midst of the herd
! of mustangs. .... .
got out of the long grass in q towering
passion One of the negroes who was near
est to me came golloping to my assistance
, & begged me to let the beast run for awhile
and when Anthony, the huntsman, came, he
would soon catch him. / was too angry to
listen to reason, and ordered him to get off
+ his horse and let me mount. The black beg
, ged and prayed Of me not to ride after the
, br,te and Mr. Neal who was some distance
off, shouted to me- as loud as he could, for
Heavens sake, to stop-That did not know
what it was to chase a wild horse in Teni-
| ~, ,1,.,;ria on1 that I OIISt NOT fancy mVSelt