Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-05-25
THE ROAD To MEXICO.
Git. Of Jalapa.

The city itself upon high hill-hishest in
bly,, 50 much So that no wheeled vehicle can pass
along any of them except the main street or road,
which has considerable rise and descent Tho
city IS surrounded by wall, and has a strongly
built church the western gate which could
be converted into citadel The streets arc pa
we'd. The houses, in other Mexican towns
are Of stone, with flat roofs and ironed barred
windows. Opposite the city on the left of tho
road is hill from which the road might be an
noyed, ana she liz thrown into the town; the road
is handsome and substantial structure of check
ed pavement, and must have been very COSTLY
ferote and its Castle.
AT the base Of a mount. bearing the same
name, some distance from the road on the left.
is cluster of houses with church. called Pc
rote, Opposite. on the right y the road' and
commanding It IN every direction, stands the cas-
tie 1t is upon fat, sandy plain strongly built
Gt stone and epcrcled hv deer dry fnsse.
oi'ch' ne mann entrance is by going a
chcea"f dcJfise by style. desce nding some twen-
ty-fiye or thirty stone steps to the bottom of the
iosse, and crossing il TO the gates, which are on
level with the bottom. The population of Pc
rote is estimated at 5000; it is fine little city.
the houses are generally Of one story built of
stone and covered with terraces; the principal
street IS remarkably fine. tho others are wide
and paved. On 4 market day, it is really aston
ishlng TO see the great variety of the best fruits
OF Europe, and Of the tropics, piled around tho
square On leaving the Perote you pass through
extensive plantations of Mague (Aloes.)
City of PuebIa.
=.
stone; ana the streets are well paved. Here wa
Ter Is abundant, but from the National bridge to
TINS place no water can be obtained-tic natives
substituting pulDue beverage From Jalupa
to uebla there occasional heights near tho
road, which. if fortified. might annoy invaders
In fact, from Vera Cruz to Puebla this is the case
the travel being alternately over broad unob-
structed road passes through Pnebla. The Pue.
bfanos have particular character: they are cun-
ming and courageous, and the most expert rob-
bers and assasins throughou Mexico, where thera
is no lack Of such. If an offender is broupb. ho.
fore an Aicalde, any where else and is known
or ascertained TO be PuebIano his condemna
ton Is sure Pnebla is situated at the extremity
OF a very largo plain, on the Vera Cruz side; its
population IS estimated 900 souls: the streets
are parallel, and very wide and wall paved-,l,o
houses built, of stone and covered with terraces.
ana two q three story high, remark ably fine.
ne public place would be admired in almost auy
part OF the word--it is perfect square, facing il
stands the cathedral; on three other sides are
magnificent palaces. There are many other ed
Ifces strikingiy admired for their beauty Them
are few churches in the world more rnapnif1-
Gently ornane nted than the cathedral Of tiscitv
All the chandeliers and lamps, which are in
great numbers, afore massive gold or silver: tho
dome Is IN marble of the country, of great beau
ty and fine workmanship. There are ten chan
les. richly decorated, and closed seach of them
with an IRON gate door of verygrest height and
OF the finest finish.
his church was fnishedse are also many 9TH
have cost so,00Q1hes The AI,neida or public
CT VERY Very we'll kept. II is composed Of three
1leys lot 500 to GOO feet each) Of popiars and
,ther fine trees, and rs surrounded By wall at
lie foot of which runs a fine little stream Of wa
err There are good many fountains in differ
mt parts OF the city, and few jets deau, or wa
er spou,s. Fey cities in Europe are finer than
'uebla; but much cannot be said for the popula-
ion, which. since the late expulsion of the Eu-
opean SpanIards who were by far the most in
elhgent and Industrious portion of it, leaves
,urious contrast between the present occupants
If public and private ediices indicating the high
IS, state of civilization. The same may be said
If the whole population bordering the road from
Vera Cruz to the city. Time will no doubt corr
.ect this.