Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-02-03
'escription of saltillo.

description of SaltilIo.
sPondent of the Charleston Is. c.
;ng from Saltillo, gives the fol-
frnP W Oh that town,now in the pos
Asls OIL warfare record no holder move
S recent occupation by ejght hum
me far-famed mountain defiles of
<qds OF this strong CITY of f;ffeen
eatapts, with all its ADVANTAGES of
eno szfocture. When the little band
osns oFth, wound through the crow
TO the Plaza de Santiago,
were SEQ @led upon by enough of dark.
ny, savage looking wretches to have
hem pack with bebbles and broom
itilio, thus interesting from the exrraor-
cnaracter OF Its capture, from its being
~ 70 Northern Mexico, and from its be-
largest city ever taken by an American
mas muchof the curious, the novel and
u,sque to tiaim our attention. Overlook
-. noia height of La Garita,* and en-
" TWO lofty ranges of mountains, whose
an.Parts appear to shut it out from the
LIS raises Its turrets and spires upon one
nose spots where we may imagine that in
ast- Our Lady of Solitude mourned over
s'i.'es ana ioiiles OF erring humanity
we DarDarous Mexican came to destry this
1-<tt !oie.uoe,ano W uidhe the beauty oil a scene
<r--<e lovely than the happy valley of Rasselas,
was its green groves, sparkling fountains. and
running waters.
Strangely indeed do the mud houses, the rude
images and superstitious devices of Church
~ Chapel, contrast with the flowing plains
fhe. Sfnnepdous Sierras, eteyko bed ;p-
LIQUIDS. From the In q the Hermitage the
spectator can best view the magnificent land
scape, and best observe the sad alterations and
defocements, caused by ignorance and supersti-
ton. Above his head are clear and serene skies
around him a pure and exbilIrating atmosphere
on his right the Jagged peaks of the Sierra of
Doves, softened bya thin veil of mist and
clouds, on his left the parallel strata and smooth
surface of the Sierra de Guajado, at his feet riv-
ulets OF bright waters flashing in the sun-beams
dense forests of Sabinss and Nogales, and clus-
tiers Of myrtles, alhelie and wild flowers gently
waving in the breeze.
He turns with sorrgw from the lovely piano.
roma, to the evidence If Mexican life, with its
superstition and barbaism. Near him are croups
of balf-naked women Engaged in washing at
the aqueducts leadngto all parts of the CITY
from the circular dones covering the aios de
las aguasf-the sprilgs gushing out of the
y cliffs of La Garita. Bch group is guarded or
rather watched by uiainous looking wretch
with leathern trowscr open at the side: Ieath-
erlacket open collar,aDd enormous sonIbrero.-
Dpves of asses pass driven by ragged boys,
AM laden with huge cargoes of wood, sacks of
gran, and bundles of cornstalks.
Occasionally dandy in white roundabout
and oanteloons covered all over with buttons,
dashed by on his richly caparisoned and spir-
ted pony, erect as may pole in the deep sad
Ole, bat necessarily moving his legs and iing-
ing his long spurs. Sometimes an icdepen- |
dent looking Ranchero trots past ON his sbap- |
cOafpd rnulo his foo+ in tbo cf;rr al
saddle occupied by his slatterny esposa, ador-
ned with leather hat of no trifing dmen-
sions.
Sometimes two or three boys gallop down the
hliL seated upon the same brideless donkey, d.
rcctng his movements solely with a stick
SoE2ffipes MT small frame and giqan-
nc wnceis of almost solid wood, rolls along,
ydrawn by oxen yoked by the horse. If the day
be bright and fair, uncoiith- cnae hn<raax-hatt.
seen nearly as arge-and not unlike the drom-
edary, slowly dragged BY six mules, with dr.
vers on the back Of three of them, and with
armed fcotmenin the rear.
Be6w lies the city, built principally of adobes
(unburnt brick and looking Ike confused
iumhle of mud walls, above which rise the rude
ly painted spires of the four chapels the dome
and Arabic facade of the cathedral. visit to
the later will be we'll repaid. IT'S a vast pile
of stone Yiaintly carved in front, and deckei
on top with grotesque figures, richly and ex-
zz.tensively ftsd upin the interior and adorned
many fine images and paintings by cele-
brated Spanish artists, however betraying
wretched tasse.
*1be sentry box, so called because the Mex
lean troops always kept guard or lookout up
on the eminence. Saltillo being partly built
on La Garita, the abruptness of which makes
it seem but LEAP to the pain derives its name
from this circumstance, the word Saltillo mean
ing leap.
literally the eyes of water, the rather Poetl-
cal name for all fountains in this country.