Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-06-24
THURSDAY, JUNE "a, lS47.
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
CHINA, (Mexico,) May Is, lS47
sSTA U 81 IN 90 Nse

CHINA, (Mexico,) May Is, lS47.
Dear -: wrote you long letter four days
ago, by an express going to Camargo. now write
by another which is to start in the morning for
Monterey. The interim, however, supplies me
with little OF interest TO communicate. Our life is
rather dull and rksome one for the present beinp
simply garrison. with now and then an expedition
to neghborlny towns and ranches, by way Of stir
ring up our blood, and keeping the natives in mind
that we are amongst them. There is no doubt that
efforts are being made to rally the people in this
region, and the object of these excursions to scat
ter :he recruits as they are gathered and capture
their officers. We have now q number of them i'm
our guard-hou
1 am gratihed to be able to say that our detach-
ment still preserves its character for humanity and
respect for private rights in all its intercourse with
the Mexicans
The land in this region is much better than nine
tenths of that along the other route to Monterey
The growth OF timber Is larger, and the soil more
productive. Still it is parched with the same un-
broken drought which curses the whole country
from the Sierra Madre 10 the Rio Grande except
tor the few months which constitute what is called
the rainy season. The ebony tree is quite abun-
dant in this neighborhood along the course of the
river, and gIows to an enormous slZe. L have seen
some which would measure between six and eight
feet across the stump. The inhabitants to appear
ances are generally poor, but | understand that
| some of them are considered persons of wealth.
Their mode of living, however, is wretched-little
better should say, IT as good, that Of our slaves
In Virginia. Ii is rare that you meet with one in
whom the Castillian blood predominates. They
are generally mixtures of the Indian and Negro
races. Their women are finely formed, but there
are few OF them whose features can be said to be at
/ all handsome. You have heard of the aquatic
sports of the Mexican ladies'. Since | have been
here, have had ample opportunity of witnessing
them. The San Juan runs by China, and several
! times on going down to battle | have found tho
river thronged with them They do not seem to
regard the presence of mon at ALL Indeed our men
appeared to be more abashed at these occasional
meetings and mlnglings in the water than they did,
AT nrst supposed 1t was only those who occupied
the condition OF peoncs, who manifested this want
OF delicacy or decency we regard it, but | am
crediby Informed it is otherwise and that MANY of
the females we have seen are Of the best society
Speaking of peones, am reminded to say that these
people are In every sense slaves Although slave
~ (such as we have) is abolished in the Mexican
Republic by law, yet any man who owes more
than he is able to pay is liable be made slave of
by his creditor. True the debt is cancelled by his
death, and his family left free, but this is the
only difference. During his life, his family as well
as himself are equally subject to the exactions of the
master, and equally dependent upon him for tho
means OF subsistence. In the general, the Mexi-
cans are an exceedingly lazy people This is vis-
Bile IN every thing around them. As an evidence
OF 1t will state that have looked in vain for
single irult tree OF any kind in all the gardens of
CHINA town as large, il not larger and more
popuIous than Staunton. Their whole aim seems
TO be to raise little stock of corn, which consii-
tutes their chief food, with goats milk, and occa-
slonally some beef Pork they do not eat at all,
(and in this think them wise } as unsuted to the
climate Although it is abundant, I learn their
only use of it is in making soap. Their corn is
prepared Tor food by first boiling it soft and then
rubbing II down between stones into dough-
having no mills to grind it. Thus prepared, they
can readily bake 1t into cakes, or convert il into
mush. as they pease.-The cake they call tortI-
lion. Two crops of corn are usually raised in this
country in year
| The buildings in China, particularly around the
plaza, are of stone, and pretty good specimens of
the old style of Spanish architecture Those ont
SIDE, or beyond the plaza, smaller, and are con-
struced OF stone, stakes and reeds planted close
together endwise in the ground, and from four to
six feet high. The latter have matched roofs,
shaped like our own. The stone houses mostly
have fiat roofs. The Church is a large building of
massive masonry. 1t has been opened for religious
services several times since we have been here.
on one Sabbath Mexican posted in the gallery,
was en!venIng the congregation, while the Priest
was officiating at the altar with the most thrilling
strains ever heard from clarionet. The tunes
played were mostly marches wondered that
! they did not inspire the Mexicans with at least
some iaint feeling OF martial daring and patriotism
On another Sabbath, the carionet man. | suppose.
being out OF the way, drum and fiddle were in
tIoduced. understand that some of the soldiers
OF The detachment who Catholics insist upon il
that this is spurious kind of Catholicism which
they have in Mexico Doubtless there is some
thing wrong about it, if tythe which is told of the
gross immortality of the priesthood be correct.
write this under the intense heat of midday
neat from which even the thick walls of the Mex
lean houses are but partial shelter-for the very
wind IS laden with it. and comes in like the hot
blast Of furnace. ] could not think Of losing the
opportunity OF writing, however. even though YOU
might never get IL, as unfortunately to have
been the case In regard to some other Of my letters
Yours. Sc
+. 81 do not perceive any material change in
the health OF the company since last wrote-Some
that were sick have recovered, and Others have Ia
ken their places on the sick list. | think it not
imProoaoe some two or three more will be dischar-
ged and sent home shortly.
CHINA, (Mexico,) May IS, 1S47.
Dear -: / avail myself of the opportun;tv NJ
tered TO write You few lines to give you the news
oil the day amongst us. Lieut.. Geper has lust re- |
joined the company after an absence of near t,vo
monlhs AT Monterey, where he was detained nv i'll !
ness. lie is now in good health. | am bapny IN
learn from him that Col. Hamtramck was much
better when he left, and considered out of danCer
Lieut.. Patterson was also doing well.
Lieut.. GeIger came by way of Camarqo, and
says It was currently reported there, lust before no
lett, that an express had come in from Gen. TavIoy
with information that Urea had again crossed TO
ih's S'oc Vi the mountains, with three Thousand
men, and seven pieces of heavy artillery. Jfso.
IS not improbable that he will ere long give rs a
call. We have been Certifying ourselves in the