The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-06-02
NO. H..

law H.
it fortified, might annoy the invaders. In
fact from Vera Cruz to Pucbla this is the
case, the traveller being alternately over
b.oad, unobsructcd roads and narrow nas-
scs, commanded by heights. The road pas
scs through Puebla. The Pueblanos have
It particular character; they arc cunning
and courageous, and the most expert robbers
and assassins throughout Mexico, where
there is no lack of such. Yet, Mr.. Thomp-
son calls Pucbla "thc Lowell of Mcxico.''
If an offender is brought before the alcade,
any where else, and is known or ascertain
ed to be Pucblano his condemnation is
sure. Pucbla is situated at the extremity of
a large plain, on the Vera Cruz side its
population is estimated at $4,000 souls; the
streets arc parallel, and very wide and well
pavcd--the houses, built with Stone and CO.
Vercd with terraces, and two or three stories
high, are remarkably fine. The public
place would be admired in almost any part
of the world; it forms u perfect square
facing it stands the cathedral on three sides
are magnificent palaces. There arc many
other ediliccs strongly admired for their
beauty.
There are few churches in the world
more magnifccntly ornamentcd than the
cathedral of this city. All the chandeliers
and lamps, which arc in great numbers, arc
of massive gold and silver; the dome is in
marble of the country, of great beauty and
of fine workmanship. There arc ten cha.
pels richly decorated, and closed each of
them with an iron gate door of very great
height and cf the finest finish. This church
was finished in 1908, and it is said to have
cost Sc, 100000. There are also many 9TH
er fine churches. The Almeida or public
walk, is very well kept. 1t is composed of
three alleys (of 500 TO 600 feet each of pop.
lars and other fine trees and is surrounded
by wall at the foot of which runs a little
stream of water. There are good MANY
fountains in different parts of the city, and a
few jets d'eau or water spouts. Few cities
in Europe are finer than Puebla but much
cannot be said for the population, which
since the late expulsion of the European
Spaniards, who were by far the most intel
ligent and industrious portion of it, leaves a
curious contrast between the present occu-
pants of public civilization. The same
may be said of the whole population borde-
ring the road from Vera Cruz to the city.
Time will no doubt correct this. Pueb is
distant from the capital about seventy eight
miles.
The ROUTE ERoM PUEBLA TO THE CAP.
rrAL.-The only town of any note between
Puebla and the city of Mexico is Cholula.
the ancient capital of a great independent
Republic, which contained during the time
of Cortez and according to his own account,
forty thousand houses. 1t has declined into
a town Of six thousand inhabitants. The
noted pyramid here is a work of art which,
next to the pyramids of Egypt, approaches
nearer to those of nature in magnitude and
vastness. Its base covers upwards OF forty.
eight acres of ground, or about four and a
half times more than the largest Eg' ptian
pyramid. Cholula is seventy miles from
Mexico. The capital is walled city, but
is not supposed to be susceptible of stub.
born defence. 1t is a very wealthy city,and
contains population of one hundred and
forty thousand, abounding in fine buildings,
costly churches, public squares and broad
and regular streets. \.
Captain p. S. Brooks, of tho cold '96
Boys" passed through this place on Tues
day morning last, on his way to his way to
his home at Edgefeld Court House. Aswe,
however, had not the pleasure OF greeting
the Captain in person, we are able only to
give our readers the gist of the intelligence
brought by him. We learn from him that
General Scott was preparing to go into
summer quarters at Jalapa and PucbIa, and
to act upon the defensive until summer.
We did not learn, however, whether this
policy of mastery inactivity" was dictated
by an indisposition on the part Gen. Scott to
proceed farther without reinforcements, or
whether he has been so instructed from
Washington City. We learn further, that
all the IL months volunteers were dischar-
ged at Jalapa, and on their way home. ss
Captain Brooks brought with him q great
many Mexican curiosities, among them g Il
kind of fire arm called an I" Eseopelts1 as 9
present from the late slltler of our Regi-.5
ment major Smith, to a gentleman in this
place. It is about half the length, and 4
carries ball about twice the size, of the
ordinary mIsket. l 4, Is, "a