The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-01-15
VOL. VINO. 2S.

VI
we marched six miles South of the
town, and cncampcd at an Hacien-
"a.
The next day we marched ten
miles to a clear stream which runs
by Morelos and the next 81 miles,
with water but once, TO clear and
very rapid river, called, from the
cotton woods growing on its banks,
Rio de los Alamos. Early on this
days march we crossed long low
range Of hills, running East and
West, our own course to-day and
yesterday being nearly South, AZ
ter crossing these hills, we struck
broad, level, limestone prairie, which
extended nearly to the Alamos.
On the 10th we crossed the Ala
mos with some difficulty and no lit
tie danger, marched four miles to a
river of the same size, called Las
Sarinos (Cypress,) which we cross
ed, and met a messenger from the
authorities of Santa Rosa, who sta
ted that the Alcalde and principal
men of that town would meet us, be-
fore we reached it, TO submit it to
US, and tender its hospitalities.
Marched eleven miles, TO within one
nile Of the town, and selected our
camp. About two miles before we
reached it, we suddenly became a.
ware that directly in front of us,
dimly seen through the smoky at
mosphere, and scarcely distinguish
able from clouds, stretched East
ward and Westward the most beau
tiful range Of mountains my eyes ev-
err beheld. Santa Rosa lies at tie
foot Of the ridge. Before the men
had dismounted, the authorities had
arrived, accompanied by an Ameri-
can physician, originally from Penn
sylvanio, as Interpreter; and after
due introductions, part of the Off
GERS, with guard Of ten men, &C
companied them to the town. Santa
Rosa was surrendered in due form,
fifteen soldiers, left there by Casta-
media, ordered to be 70, Incoming the
next morning, with their arms, and
four mule loads Of powder belonging
to the Government, and we returned
to camp.
The nest morning the Squadron
marched in, the arms and powder
were received and placed in charge
Of the Alcalde, to await the pleasure
Of the General, and the soldiers in
formed that they were no longer
soldiers, but citizens, subject to the
civil power, at which they seemed
hugely pleased.
At Nara and San Fernando the
people, and especially the women,
were very shy. They peeped at us
from th" grated windows, but ran
like cartridges at our approach.
Here they treat us with great kind
ness, and seem TO icelno fear. The
principal men seem all anxious that
Coahuila should become part of the
United States, and would at once
pronounce their independence, if
they did not fear that the United
States would not provide for them in
making a t,caty of peace.
After surveying the town, my first
care was TO find place where /
could eat in comfort; ard after some
search, engaged as hostess a talk
ativo old woman, one Dona Sonora
Ponscera Sanacs who contracted to
feed me, en- estil0 Mericono, for a
consideration, and here accordingly
| quartered. Our horses, when we
visited town, were led through the
dining room into a small apartment
in the rear, tenantcd by an asthmat-
ic hog, hugely corpulent and I'M
wieldy, fattened for the soap manu-
facture, and thence into the yard
behind, and we and they soon be-
came completely at home. Choco-
late made with goats milk, and the
finest bread in the world-or excel
lent coffee, and cakes of half a dozen
kinds, for our hreakfas.-with Mex
lean dishes hot with green and red
pepper for dinner, left US nothing TO
desire.
| noticed, one evening, our hostess
busily counting money and making
calculations, and curiosity led me TO
inquire into the cause. She was
about TO buy girl for cook, for
debt of $3.50. learned then and
afterwards, that n man or woman
may be sold for debt, or a parent
may contract debt, and pledge his
or her child for its payment; and if
it is not paid at the time, the child
is sold. 4 man so sold, receives,
towards payment of his debt, five
dollars, and woman two, per month.
If the person sold does not like his
master, he may procure another to
pay the debt, and take him; and
when such other person offers to do
50, and the slave consents, the first
buyer cannot refuse to take his mon
= Il II ..s... 4.