The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-03-20
Notes in Mexico.-January 81, 1s47.


Notes in Mexico.-January 81, 1s47.
We travelled over some beautiful rich lands
and reached the village of Aldamos, (situate
on the west bank Of the San Juan,) about 10
O'Clock, being travel from Camargo Of As or
so miles Col. Morgan held at Camargo some
hostages from Aldamos as security for the good
behaviour Of its people. The Alcalde had
sent down messenger on Monday evening,
who reached Camargo about day-break Tues
day, giving Col. Morgan, in letter, the same
information as to Latham's situation, as La
than did himself in letter by another messen-
ger who reached Camargo about O'Clock A. NJ,
same evening. Such was the character OF
these dispatches that no one left Camargo
under any other idea but that fight was GER
tain, and against great odds, SO much 80 that
Mr.. Whitley left letter with Capt. Walkers
servant, directed to his father, informing him
Of the expedition, and contain g a statement
that il the letter reached him he might res;
satisfied that we had either fallen or been cap
tured. The servant was directed to put i in
the Office If we did notreturn in four days.
The Alcalde Of Aldamos and his cunning spy
looking old Secretaries, were very polite, and
even affectionate in their treatment Corn was
readily furnished for our horses, and fine
beef for the men at fair prices. All thepeople
(the village contained, | would suppose, some
three or four hundred inhabitants,) were kind,
attentive and complimentary Nothing was
to be heard but ssmucho bueno," mile gratias,'
IS, seniorn The women, like women every
where else, are always kind, but the men were
under the potent influence of fear, almost the
only influence which they can be brought to
recognize or respect. Col. Morgan Immediate
~ upon his arrival despatched messenger to
Latham, who had fortified himself at AIlacka,
a Rancho IS miles off The plan was TO start
immedi tely upon the return sof the messen-
ger. In the mean time men and horses all
rested and slept. 4 The messenger returned
about 8 O'Clock that evening, bringing with
him a letter from Latham, in whichhe stated
that the Mexicans hadraised their siege and
departed higher up the river, having, doubtless,
learned through their emissaries, that succer
was at hand. They, in fact, know aiwayseve-
ry step the Americans take This arises from
The facsoi the GOVERNMENTS being obliged to
employ SO many Of their treacherous country
men as mueteers, arrerees, Interpreters. guides,
&C., and the difficulty Of distinguishing them.
Col. Morgan did not think it necessary 70 start
en- ihat night, 20 we remained AZ Aidamus I'M
til morning, The next morning, Thursday,
we set out arly and reached Alacka about II
O'clock; here we got dinner, the mules
being all packed and ready, the whole party set
out together. When we were about to leave
Aldamos, Walker, Whitley, Tree, Rogers and
myself, requested Col Morgan, throughme, as
spok esman, to allow us to constitute the ad-
vanse guard. To thishe very readily assent
ed, ordering us to keep about hundred yards
in advance of the TO emost troops, andFo bring
to all struggling Mexicans W homwe might see.
We ever aftersrode in advance during the re-
mainder Of the expedition, and Imay say here,
that there was never met with dense looking
chapperel during the whole of the trip that we
did not look for an attack. Col. Morgan now
divided his force, now numbering about sky
men-one third in front, one third on either
side Of the train, about the middle Of IT. ana
third 10 rear. Hesrode atthe headof the front
party, but passed frequently to the rear to see
all right. We reached 2 rancho on the San
Juan SIX miles from Alacka, called Mantay-ka
which am told signifies lard-a good name,
ss we saw there many tat hogs. We arrived
there about an hour by sun and stald there>tiil
morning. The land from Aidamosto hacka,
with the exception OF three or four miles, is
just as rich as any in the world, esPeclaiiy be-
tween Alacka and Mantay-ka. In the rancho
that the officers slept in at Mantay-ka, noticed
the Mexican cradle, which is nothing more
nor less than shallow circular hammock,
about three feet in diameter, with four cords
attached 10 itquadrangularly, aud fastened to a
beam, the hammock swinging about six inches
from the floor, which is always earth, never of
wood. The little memo is placed in this ham,
mock and gently swung to sleep by an older
brother or sister J saw afterwards thesame
arrangement at several other ranches. At
II G 4