The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-13
THE UNION.


nearly due SOUTH but at this point the roaa uns nearly
due west. -, =, a.,
quarters but sent ahead to look Tor an encam
ment which we found at "La Pastoral, an estancia or
cattle rancho, supplied with good water from well
about 20 se ase w nm he pay on @
ming stream, and partly on reservoir, into winch the
water of the stream collected Tor the use OF cattle
The grazing was Indifferent, and fuel scant. The Ia
bores (the word lahore Mexico means either definite
measure of land cultivated field here is exclusively
devoted to the growth OF wheat The road from luna
comes in at this point passing through our camp we
marched to-day 10 miles, dry and uncultivated
country similar to that passed over yesterday which
may, in fact, be said of every days march. Inc fuel
generally consists of small growth OF mesquit, huas-
ache Ga true acaca) and species pseudo.aca Oh
our march from Monclova, we have occasionally seen
the black tailed deer large kind OF hare, ('he same,
believe as that described by Townsenda the prairie
wolf and large black, dark -coored VOL ihe Amer
lean mocking Bird the paisano, described by Major Nc
Call) the quail, (of the United States) and beautiful
nited yecoored partridge The cattle of the
character as those mentioned in the memoir at San An,
tonic de Bexar They make excellent draught-oXen, and
good beeves They have also excellent breed OF hogs
in northern Mexico, which obtain an immense size They
atten easily and their meat is remar kabe sweet and nu
rtious. | think they resemble the CHINA hog their
color is commonly darkish blue.
Dec 2d-The march, to-day was only eight miles, and
the camp pitched both banks of the R,o Ienago,
beautiful full stream flowing rapidly over pebbly bot
which it falls in narrow cascades II rises near Oasnu
elo where its waters OF deep red but the coorng
matter all deposited before this place. and they
become perfectly pelucid At this point, small portion
of tbs stream drawn off to La Pastoral and the remain
der is all absorbed by the Labores , :,
In the rainy season. it flows into the Benedito Called
also The San Antonio and the Los Angeos,) tributary
to the San Juanthe deep, dry bed OF which we crossed
on the 30th November about miles south OF Sanceda
When full it would be impossible Tor an army without
Al Tenayo we found mourniul evidence of the nsecu
ry of life and property in this unhappy and distracted
country few ruined ranches showed that there had
Ionc bee
valley But few years since (as we We're informed by
Mexican) band of Cumanches made a descent on ITS
peaceful and unofendng inhabitants, and slaughtered 2O
in one single building where they had hudded together
like flock of sheep scared by prowling wolves There
is scarcely mile OF our march through Mexico that
is not marked by the wooden cross and pile OF stones;
sad mementos that that spot some poor creature had
met his fate the hands of ruthless savages or OF his
countrymen quite as merciless as the dreaded Gu
manches.
On more than one occasion, when small advance
had been Mistaken the distance, for party OF lnd
ans, (or such was the npdity and silence OF our pro-
gress that our presence often surprlse,) was
touching the flee to the place. where, per-
haps father, mother, husband had persisted, and
claspng the in their arms, quietly await that mar,
yrdom which sad experience had taught them 10 regard
| as inevitable.
On the Sd December, the army arrived early, after a
march of 90 miles, at Cienega Grande, and encamped;
Bonnevilles battalion Uhe advance) having started at
in the morning. to avoid the excessive heat OF the sun
the road very rough and difficult for wagons and ar
tery. -
Cienega Grande is situated on the main road from the
Rio Grande, via Camago, Monterey, Saltllo and Paras
to Chihuahua and Durango. 1t is large and valuable
estate producing wheat corn cotton, horses, and cattle
and has been reclaimed, its name implies (Bg Marsh)
from extensive swamp, or shallow lake.
The next day we marched IL miles, and encamped In
low ground with good water and grass conveniently near
the hacienda of San Lorenzo de Obaa This is the most
magnificent and lordly establishment we have yet SEEN
1t pcturesquey situated lovely stream OF water
surrounded by its aamedas pleasure grounds through
which the has been diverted with long avenues OF
trees leading up it from different directions III quad
rangua in shape about 500 feet by 300 feet Deep d.
vided by building into two large courts The
exterior aspect is very imposing with its white surface
and rrets each angle, loopholed tor defence winch
lend to it quite caselated appearance Its interior ar
rangements and decorations very rich, IN keeping
with the exterior. The floors are formed OF cement,
brought to perfectly smooth surface polished and
colored and the walls painted in fresco The popu-
laon OF this hacienda, including the surrounding houses
about 500, the most OF whom are poems The intel
gen and hospabe proprleors OF thus vast establish
men were educated at Bardstown, in Kentucky and ap-
pear to entertain most lively and agreeable recollectons
of the country in which they passed their boylsh days
They have imported machinery from the United States
part of the world have seen better farming arrange
ments Everything is convenient, slightly, comiorta-
BILE, and efficient. This estate is OF immense extent
but of course much of il is not arable and IS valuable
only for the rearing of stock The cultivated land de-
voted to the growth of corn wheat, cotton. and fruits
and to the production OF wine and brandy rom In Inc
! braed vineyards in Mexico The wines are OF thIee
kinls-he oarlone, the vino Manco and the duee The
FIRST Is KIND Oh ddfet DWBuHuy, very ueh.a.e ai"
palaabe The second is species Of Malaga Madeira,
and the third resembles the Mscat They are all pure
Juice of the grape and the better kinds (Which when OLD
give out an agreeable aroma formed from the natural
expression OF juice without the application OF arifcla
force The ordinary kinds Todden out by naked men
in watts The brandy agua de ude resulting IRON the
distllaon of the wne is also very pure liquor ana
the art Of rcctfcaon, separating the essential oils
was well UNDERSTOOD would no doubt rival the best
French brandes.
This region of country the soil of which appears to be
calcareous ntermxed with the debris OF the sates may
truly be called the land of con, of the olive and the
vine' Its climate is salubrous mild, and equable and
is exempt from the visitation of the northes, and is by
far the most agreeable and attractive portion OF Mexico
which we have as yet | regret that my short and
interrupted visit it did not permit me to institute those
minute statistical geographical, and economical re-
searches which had proposed to myself but the com
handing general will readily understand the reasons &c
which allude
Corn sells for So so the anega not quite three bush
els flour SO the CARGO (of lbs J beef4 cents the
b. wine 81 the gallon, and brandy IS cents
From San Lorenzo to Parras is about five miles. w
the 9Th December, we occupied position hal
way between the hacienda and the town. The
camp was pitched on charming plain (wateI
ed by numerous springs) facing the town, win
the high and magnificent peaks OF the Sierra Madrt
towering in our frontal the very base OF which, occu
pyng the first ACTIVITY of its slopes, IS built the lovely
Town OF Paras; collection of hacendas, perhaps II may
be termed rather than city, for the vineyards and gar
dens separate the houses from each other except on the
principal streets The water gathered IRON the rccesse
of the mountains and stored its terraces In large stone
reservoirs is, after rrgatng the vineyards permitted
descend in cascades and numerous brooks to the lowe
town, all of whose streets it washes.
Paras and its dependencies said TO contain pop
aton of 900 souls but regard this exaggerated
estimate its inhabitants Industrious, sober, thrifty
ntegent and unfrendly TO the present form of thei