The Arkansas banner., 1847-03-03
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lhe tirssome prospect Of rugged nlonntains and rude gsps and passes, was only relieved by whaI, at..s distance, nigh, be taken for a ! pretty large flock of geese; but which, on q nearer approaris proved to bs tie besy ef 4 whise tents that formed the humble houses i i 4 .ss brave fellows, who were cnrsing their fate for having. after all their marching. led them to so bleak and inhospi,able a spot for ! winter quarters. You who, even so far south | as Arkansas, have always some iasimation of I the changes in the weather, can scarce con- ceive the violence or the intense cold atten- ding those sudden blasts, (quaintly termed, in a truly patriotic speech of a certain Col. I in Congress, aSouthern Northers,') that, at this season of the year, are peculiar 10 this latitude. They spring upsuddeuly, in mos. instances, after an exceedingly warm day, and rival, successfully, our keenesi nor'wea,ers in their fiereeness and piercing cold Tent cloths, and even blankets, are but slight protection, and often, while on the march. when some such rude intruder had uncere- monously entered the camp between tattoo and reveille, have crawled from under my own piostraie domicil, to view the "wreck of matter aud the crush of "--canyass around me, and, in spite of my own mislortunes, i could bu, laugh, till my sides ached, to see the poor fellows, whom the warmth of the Il preceding niglsi had induced 10 dispense with their 'siaexpressibles,n crawl shiyering forth from the superintendent tenls--iheir neither garments gallantly suspended and streaming in the wind, rubbing their heads, or their----slocking .-oihers endeavoring to stop the stream of elaret issuing from their nasal organ, that had, unfortunately, formed an unexpected intimacy with the ridge pole, --all looking quite asionished, while those whose tents were not yet blown were ham mering away ut the pins, making the camp sound like one universal carpenter shop Such scene took place few nights since, and though lhe tent, was in, had, for opce. the good manners to stand through the whole Of it, yet, when walked, could scarcely open my eyes for the weight of dust that our rude visitor had very gently heaped on the lids.
 Three days after the date of my last let ter, was jus, preparing for visit to SaItil- To, when orders were issued to move the camp back to the Encontada,--a pass about l2 miles islani,--where, it seems. we had been directed to encamp at first. wa. de- termined, however, not to be disappointed in my expected visit. So leaving the camp to move itself where 1t might, mounted my horse .and, having procured companion, was soon en route for town. After having ridden. as l thought, quite as far as it had been represented, along the knob of the mountain, perceiving the plain upon which we were encamped, and looking in vain for a city among the numerous ranches that, for miles, dotted the plain below, we arrived up- on the brow of hill, when, behold, immedi- ately below Us, nesiliag close io the hill-side with all is churches, and monasteries. reser- voirs and fountains, was Saltillo The descent into the city, on that side, IS down a narrow street. making, with the plain below, an angle of 45o, paved with round stones, worn per- lectly smooth and glassy by use. Down this we rode, or rather slipped, carefully, with the fate of the army's favoriie, Ridgely, conlinu- ally before our eyes, until we reached the grand plaza. This was superior to anything of the kind we had ever met with in Mcxi- co. Formed by the imposing front of the ca thedral, with all it's gingerbread painting and ornaments on the one sde,--tae arcade, with it's long row of columns similar to those in front of your Stale House, upon another,- the public council chamber and carcel na- ciona!, upon the third; while the fourth side was formed by really elastic and beautiful building,-tIie second story being a dwelling and the first floor occupied by merchants of every hue, sausage-rendefs, shoemakers, tailors, d,y goods sellers. and all apothecary shop-,he only one have seen in Mexico. In the centre of the plaza, was fine large fountain, copous enough to supply the whole city with the purest water from the neigh boring mountains. Around the edges were occasional shade trees, men, women, and children, filling diverse vessels at the fonn- tain;--the men in their leather brooches, yarn jackets. and peaked crown hats, bear ing a long pole with wa.er-keg suspended in the middle ;-lhe women, wrinkled old age and buoyant youth, tripping alike with their slatternly slipshod heels, short petit coats, displaying their weii-turned ..Oh don't