The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-27
Scenes beyond the Rio Grande.

lanaupas and the Rio GIande, the north by the Rio
urande and Chihuahua, the west by Chihuahua, and
on the south by Chihuahua, Durango and New Leon 1t
contains about $1,000 square miles, with population OF
only l2ao0J or not quite and half TO the square
mile lWo-thrds of s surface level PLAIN, and the
remainder consists OF mountains and narrow fertile val
eys It's principal rivers the Rio Grande the Ala
mos the Sabnas the Saado and the San Juan, OF which
me st is alone naylgabe Tor any considerable distance
us chei towns are Santa Rosa, Moncova Parras, and
Salhllo the latter being the OF government 1t is
situated on one of the numerous tributaries to the San
Juan, containing about III 900 Inhabitants clearly,
| WeH-Dult, wel-paved and we-watered town, and is
the ecclesiastical as well political capital The cathe
dral racing the main plaza is large and imposing stone
structure OF mixed order OF architecture, the Ara
besque pIedomnang with richly ornate facade of cut
stone pointed The plaza is extensive and the buildings
on generally two stories high with balconies or po
cos think can recognise in the domestic architecture
OF the cities an intimate blending of the Mexican the
MOORISH and the Flemish, the two last having been i'm
| tee style
Directly fronting the Cathedral, is beautiful and CO.
pious fountain at which the female poems, in their pic
uresque costumes may be at all hours of the day.
drawing water and chatting, with the characteristic vou
6nty OF The country; Tor most Mexlcans, unlike the
Spaniards, inveterate takers Salto is place of
considerable trade and the of the only manufacto
RES OF which Coahula can boast These establishments
represented to be in very lourshng condition, pay
ing high wages to the employees and large dividends to
the stockholders The city not defencbe, being sua-
ted in ayalley which is commanded three sides The
true battlefield Tor Its defence in 'front.' is just beyond the
hacienda OF San Juan de Buena Vista, about miles be-
yond the town. On this approach is narrow defle oc
cnpled by the river the right hand OF which rises
high bluff hill, and on the left wde Deep and almost
impossible arroyo. his pass may be completely swept
by convergpg fire OF artillery; and be turned only
by light infantry on the hand, while on the other
side of the ravne Tin which running stream of water
troops pass without exposing their flank to the
llery within pontbl range. To occupy the whole val
ley, would demand about 700 men, of all arms, with pow
eriu batteries OF field artilley and it would probably
qure 800 to hold the town. protect the depos
and guard the passes These forces could defend Salho
in that direction from overwhelming numbers and supe
| 1,fan ,f
| in the rear, from the direction of Monterey is at
! Los Muertos, 30 miles distant, of the strongest
mountain gorges have ever seen. is, in fact, the
| portal to the whole interior country. The Mexicans
to have contemplated making stand al this place,
after the termination of the armisce and had half
sruced several strong works, which calculated to
command all the approaches within reach of their guns
Why they should have abandoned this apparently i'm
pegnabe post is still ''a marvel and mystery" unless
may venture to suppose that the known presence of
large column at Monclova, which might have taken
them in reverse, impressed them with the idea that the
forward movement of that division would render their
position untenable and jeopardze the safety of their
More than half of the whole State of Coahuila be-
longs TO the two brothers Sanches, who also own
some 10000 poems Several of their estates are
managed by stewards, while the remainder are rented
Their principal town residence is in Saltilo; but their
favore country seat is the magnificent! hacienda OF Pdtos
This powerful family, together with their relatives the
Biancos, Yodrros, and the Zuaugos, nearly the
entire State and its population They have taken no
open or active part IN the present war, and have pre-
officers; but the Blancos and Sanchezes under
stood to be prepared under more promising
to uphold the Mexican government with their wealth and
influence Nearly all expenditures for supplies have
found their way directly or indirectly into the Golfers OF
these princey nabobs.
Except for the education of the clergy, there are no
semnares of learning, deserving of the name, Coahu
lila but there is ecclesiastical college in Salhllo of
reputation, but the Of instruction selulous
excludes everything approaching to science and is
fined the classics and the reading Of the Fathers
The consequence OF this state OF things is that BY far the
greater portion of the population plunged into the
profound ignorance and neither read write
Many of the better class formerly sent to the United
States to be educaed but for years. this plan has
been abandoned and they are now sent for that purpose
to France and to the city OF Mexico.
Four-ffth OF the population OF northern Mexico are OF
the aboriginal race (pure mixed in different degrees
with Spanish blood the neal descendants OF the once
powerful Aztec monarchy In habits, customs, mode OF
life, wants and civilization they have probably changed
but little, with the exception of the abandonment of their
barbarous sacrfcia rites, since the conquest and they
retain even much of their original language They are
good looking people and while one seldom sees very
large man amongst them, they certainly wel-made,
agile and muscular who we have been much in the
custom of undertaking of abstemious habits and of great
powers of endurance on foot or on horseback. They
scarcely equaed as courers and unsurpassed in
marching ltmay seem paradox to say that they pos
sess much boldne and little courage; they would
ture where Drawer would hesitate, and yet would Of
fer faint resistance when danger is upon them Hence it
Fancy to yourself rather light coored Indian dressed
in pair of leather unmentonables, without suspenders
butte from knee uOWnWardS, WnCn are
left open in warm weather for comfort, and to exhibit
Il drawe underneath common cotton shirt general
V like hunting shirt red sash tied tightly around
the wa st pair OF sandes his feet and iron
spurs heel with heavy conical felt hat hat would
almost resist sabre cut head, and long ashen
iron pointed goad in hand and you have perfect picture
of the ranchero, rather uacero mounted spirited
poney with lasso at his saddle bow, and he is
adversary for single to encounter He rides well
and eaessy, and throws the lasso with unerrlng ann
# is beautiful sight to him with his redblanke
Nvorn as poncho in cold weather) streaming in the
wind his head bent eagerly forward, and asso whrng
in circles high in air. riding down refractory animal
that he seldom fails to catch at the first throw by the neck
or hind foot, bringing him violently to the ground The
animal thus caught, feels that the contest ended and
quietly submits TO his captor 1t is amazing to the
Young uchns following the example OF their elders, and
practising on little pigs and tender kids, who by means
appear to enjoy the fun veres the old fable of the boys
and ors" may be sport to the party but is often
death to the other Every Mexican whatever his condition
may be regarded national amusement. One of our
men became intoxicated at the Hacienda of Lorenzo
near Parras and the act of raising his carbne, to
shoot Don Manuel its amabe and accomplished propre
tor who quick thought threw the moose over him,
and pnoned him by the arms, when our Stalwart Ar
kansas cavalier became meek and quiet as q lamb.
The weather. classes dress very much IN the same
STYLE but of richer fabrcs their buttons being usually OF
silver; and they particularly osentatous in their
saddles and housings which often overloaded with
heavy silver ornaments They also very curious in
the color and pattern of their blankets, and the materials
of their cloaks.
The women are rather under what we regard as the
and while few are beautiful many of them while young,
good looking and agreeable Their hands and feet
are small with we-urned ANGLES, They have generally
white teeth good mouths magnificent black eyes, and