The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1847-01-28
MONDAY MORNING, JAN, 25, ls47.

A correspondent of the Charleston Is. C.)
Mercury writing from Saliillo, gives the fol-
lowing description of that town, now in pos
session of Gen. Worth:
The annals of warfare record no bolder
movement than the recent occupation by
eight hundred men of the far-famed noun
tain defiles of the Rinconada of this strong
city OF fifteen thousand inhabitants, with att
It's advantages of position and structure
When the little band OF Regular troops under
Gen. Worth wound through the crowded
streets to the Plasa of Santiago, they were
secluded upon by enough of dark swarthy
savage looking wrelches 10 have driven them
back with pebbles and broom sticks. Saltllo,
thus interesting from the extraordinary char
acler of its capture, from lis being the key to
Northern Mexico, and from lis being the lar
gest city ever taken by an American Army,
has much of the curious, the novel and pic
turesque to claim our attention. Overlooked
by the bold height of La Garita* and en-
circled by two lofty range of mountains,
whose rugged ramparls appear TO shut il out
from the world, it raises its turrets and spires
upon one of those spots where we may i'm
agine that in ages past Our Lady Of Solitude
mourned over the follies and frailties of err
ing humanity. But the barbarous Mexican
came to destroy This holy quietude and TO
make the beauty of scene more lovely than
the happy valley of Rapeas, with its green
groves, sparklin fountains and Iunning waters.
Strangely indeed do the mud houses, the
rude ina ges and supersttious devices of
Church and Chapel, contrast with the flow
ing plains aud the stupendous Sierras eter-
nally robed in clouds From the hill Of the
Hermitage, the spectator can best view the
magnificent landscape and best observe the
sad alterations and defacements, caused by
ignorance and superstition. Above his head
are clear and serene skies, around him a
pure and exhileraiing atmosphere, on his right
the jagged peaks of the Sierra Of Doves
soflened by thin veil of mist and clouds
on his left the parallel strata and smooth sur
face of the Sierra dc Guaado, at his feei
Eivulets of bright waters flashing in the sun
beams, dense forests of Sabnas and Nogale:
and clusters of Myrtles, alheles and wlc
flowers, gently waving in the breeze. He
turns with sorrow from The lovely panorama
10 the evidences of Mexican life with it,
superstition and barbarism. Near him are
groups of half naked women engaged il
washing at the acqueducts leading into al
parts of the city from the circular dome
covering the ojos de las aguast-the spring
gushing out ofthe cliffs OF La Garita. Fac
group is guarded or rather watched by vii
famous looking wretch, with leather trowser
open at the side, leather jacket, open cola
sandals and enormous sombreo. Droves @
asses pass, driven by ragged boys, and ade
with huge cargoes of wood, sacks Of graf
and bundles of corn-staIks. Occasionally
dandy in white roundabout and pantaloon
covered all over with buttons, dashes by O
his richly caparasoned and spirited poney
erect as may pole, in the deep saddle. bu
necessarily moving his legs and jingling b
long spurs. Sometimes an independent lool
ing Ranchero trots past on his shaggy coate
mule, his feet in the stirrups, but the saddl
occupied by his saternly esposa, adorne
with leather hat of no trifing dimension
Sometimes two or three boys gallop dow
the hill, seated upon the same brdeless dol
key, directing his movements solely with
stick. Tomelmes cart, with small fran
and gigantic wheels of almost solid WOO,
rolls along drawn by oxen yoked by the horn
If the day be bright and fair, uncouth coacI
es may be seen nearly as large and not vi
like the dromedery, slowly dragged by 81
mules, with drivers on the backs of three
them, and with armed fooimen in the rear
Below lies the city built principally
adobes, (unburnt brick) and looking like
confused tumble of mud walls, above Whit
rise the rudely painted spires of the four CHI
Piles, the dome and Arabic facade OF II
cathedral. A visit to the latter will be we
repaid. TITS vast pile of stone, quaint
carved in front, and decked on top with orc
esque figures, richly and extensively fttt
up in the interior and adorned with many FL
images and paintings by celebrated Span
artists, all however beiraying wretched tast
*Ths sentry box, so called because Il
Mexican troops alwas kept guard or lo'
eut on the eminence. Saltilo, being part
built on La Gariia, the abrupiness of whi
In making Il seems but leap 10 the plai
derives iis name from this circumstance, Il
word Saliillo meaning leap.
fLitteraiiy the eyes of water, the rath
poeiical name for all fountains in this cou
Try.