The North-Carolina standard., 1847-03-17
From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
APPROACH To THE CITY OF MEXICO.


Cruz as the starting point, is determined on by
the great military sages at Washington, we have
an interest In knowing what is to be encountered
on the road. The following Itinerary, as it may
be called, has been made up from authentic sour
ces, and is believed to be accurate.
Vera Cruz. The city of Vera Cruz is walled
round, with fort at each extremity OF the water
front the walls the land side are loopholed for
musketry. Parapet guns have been recently mount
ed on the walls. The city walls are very thick,
of coral rock the walls of the houses are usually
2-1-2 feet thick, and the roofs are fiat Each
house has cistcrn or cistcrns of rain water. The
city is well paved.
Ve,a Cruz to Merico About ten miles from
Vera Cruz is a stream 200 yards wide, crossed
at ferry in seows, or by swimming horses over
The next stream, about 80 miles from Vera Cruz
is fordabe, and is also spanned by wooden bridge
called Puente del Reg, (,he Kings bfidge,) and
also the national bridge. Near j; on the right is
an eminence of about 80 feet, on which is FORT
completely commanding the approach and bridge.
Between these bridges and JaIapa the road pass
Ies near several heights, from which the natives
can annoy invaders on the road.
City Of Jalapa This city stands on very eleva.
ted ground. yet for many miles the ascent is quite
gradual. From the city Vera Cruz is visible, as
is also the sea, ninety miles distant. The city it.
self is upon high hll-highest in the centre, so
that the streets incline considerably; so much so
that no wheeled vehicle pass along any of
them except the main street, road; which has a
considerable rise ad descent The city is surroun-
ded by wall, and has strongly built Church
near the western gate, which could be converted
into citadel. The streets are paved. The hou
ses as in other Mexican towns are of stone, with
fiat roofs and iron barred windows. Opposite the
city, on the left Of the road is hill. from which
the road might be annoyed and shells thrown into
the town. For the distance of six or seven miles
before reaching the town. the road is a handsome
and substantial structure of chequercd pavement
and must have been very costly.
Perote. At the base OF high mount bearing
the same name, some distance from the road on
the left, is cluster of houses, with Church,
called Perote.
Castle Of Perofe. Opposite, ON the right of
the road, and commanding it in every direction,
stands the castle. 1t is upon fiat sandy plain,
strongly built of stone, and encirced by deep
dry fosse or ditch. The mau entrance is by 60
ing over q ehecaur de trize by stiIe, descending
some twenty-five or thirty stone steps 10 the bot
tom of the fosse and crossing il to the gates, which
are on a level with the bottom
City of Peubla. This city is walled and forli-
fed II is built of stone and the streets well paved
Contains about 100000 inhabitants Here water
is abundant, but from the national bridge to this
city water can be obtained-the natives substi-
luling pnlque as leverage
From Jalapa TO Pueba there are occasional
heights the road, which. if fortified, might
annoy invaders. In fact from Vera Cruz to Peu-
bla this is the case-lhe travel being alternately
over broad, unobsructed roads and narrow passes,
commanded by heights The road passes through
Puebla. The Pueblanos have peculiar charac-
ter; they are cunning and courageous, and the
most expert robbers and assassns throughout Mex
leo, where there is no lack of such. If an otfen-
der is brought before an alcade, any where else,
and is known 10 be a Pueblano his condemnation
is sure.
Cordora A small walled and garrisoncd town,
through which the Ioad passes Beyond Peubla
the road is good ill il reaches the mountain of
Cordova, about midway between the former and
the city Of Mexico, where The ascent is very rug
ged and steep, though without dcfles. Near the
road, at the foot of the mountain, passes the Rio
FTio, cold river, which rises in the neighbor-
! ing mountain of Popocatapetl, 1900 feet above
the level of the sea. A work on some of the
heights OF Popocatapetl would command the road
! After leaving the mountain of Cordoya the road
is good and unobstructed, with plenty of water to
the city Of Mexico. For several miles before
reaching that city the road is delightful, passing
between parallel canals and rows Of Lombardy
poplars,
The lake of Tezcueo. This lake commences
on the right of the road near the city, into which
its waters carried by canal, the latter serving
also to drain the cutters, &c. into the lake. The
so called lake is large, long, and very irregular
shaped basin, shallow. and contains numerous
small islands, and covered by myriads of wild
ducks. The depth of water varies with the sea-
son; in the rainy months the basin is filled, and
then it assumes the appearance of large lake
Being the receptacle of all the drainag from the
city It is very filthy. The canal from the city
passes through it, fed by its waters, 6ve or six
miles in a south direction to the small fort o
Chalco, at the extreme margin of the basin in
that direction. This canal is used for transport
ing produce into the city, and for pleasure excur
sions in gondoias, &c.
City of Merico. Like all other Mexican cities
this has walls and houses Of stone, with fiat roofs
passes through the centre of each street, covered
E by broad flag stones, removable at pleasure All
the cutters are drained into the canal or lake
The city has many large and strong churches
and other great buildings, easily converted int
fortresses. II its walls were repaired and mount
ed with cannon, and well garrisoned, it coulc
make formidable resistance to besiegers
During the festival days, which are very nu
merous the haciendas for twenty or thirty mile
around send into the city not less than 10000
mounted peasantry Of the better class, most exper
) horsemen. They are courageous, and skilfu
in the use of the lance the lasso, and machcte
, which is large and heavy knife. Nothing NOR
would be necessary than for the padres to go fort
into the streets of the principal cies particularl!
Pueba and Mexico, elevate their crosses and ap
peal to the bigotry Of the population. 10 rally al
who would make fierce resistance to an invasion
Al. = fiovo 81, fhoirxu in