Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1847-04-14

| oil tnlS CDdUS0lul ClitHdle.
26th. Our course was southwesterB.
AS we approached Bajan, the ground be-
came marty, the dust from which was very
distressing TO the men, who presented the
appearance Of having been sprinkled with
dirty flour.
| On the 9th we reached the Beuedito,
and encamped on one of its numerous
branches, after most fatiguiug march Of
80 miles, over a dusty road, and exposed
to the intolerable heat of the sun. For
the whole of this distance there is not
single drop Of water, except little In the |
Tanque San Felipe, which was SO Pulres-
cent that even the mules refused 1t. The
infantry suffered greatly in this march, and
came up in small squads.
The country from Bajan, 20 miles be-
yond Parras, from Castanuela, Patos, and
! Aqua Nueva, drains into the San Juan,
which, flowing past Monterey, discharges
INTO the Rio Grande at Camargo.
There are several plantations near our
bamp on which large quantities OF maize
are grown.
Between Castano and the Benedito, a
distance of 66 miles, there is no settle
ment: we saw a few ruined ranches,
which had been destroyed by the Indians.
November %. Owing 10 The sutferIngs
Yesterday of men and horses, the general
f dete rmined to remain on the Benedltto.-
1t was obserxed, quite early in the day,
r that the stream was rapidly and mysteri-
} ousIy diminishing; and by noon, there was
: scarcely any OF il remaining. The gene
raj directed me to ascertain, if possible,
the cause of this sudden disappearance.
; After consulting with several Mexicans at
the hacienda who all protested that they
knew nothing about the matter, and sug-
, gested that the waller had probably been
o drawn off some sixteen miles up the river,
: for the purpose Of irrigating the wheat
i fields, proceeded up the stream about two
!, and half miles, when ! discovered that
e the supply branch, on which we were en-
}, camped, had been damned up. and slu'ce
cut. bv which The water was diverted into
e another channel. | Immediately destroy
II ed the temporary dam, partially stoPPee
+ the .lujce, and turned The stream back III
!. 70 lis former he'd, and then directed gang
x ot peons to complete the work. A guard
q was afterwards posted 10 prevent recur
. renee of the mischief There can be nc
n doubt that The act was done with mali
:. cious design.
ct The hacienda San Antonio de Jarrol j:
very large corn plantation, which pro
n. duces also some cotton and cattle. Ihe
lie Benedito valley is long, broad, fertile an'
IL highly cultivated; but the road was con
to fined to the high and arid country, cover
its ed with growth of cacti, (ot which there
h. is an infinite variety, many OF them
he great beauty artemesias, equIseta' In
Of sorbal-from the large dubious root
IS. which an intoxicating liquor is distilled
ii- the maguay, or Agave Amerlcana-irof
of which the puIque and muscal ltavor''
err Mexican drinks) are obtained--the spar
ish bayonet, which is large tree, often &
ire feet high, and feet in diameter, and 10
ok. IachuquIlo, kind of dwarf bayone', IN
We, nishing the raw material for the mai
the ropes and gunny-bags OF the country.
are is prepared by rotting, which destroys
Oh. but the fibre, which is extremely strong
The On our march from MoncloVa we ha'
out occasionally seen the black-talled deer,
ar large kind of hare, the prairie wolf, ana
les, large black or dark-colored wolf; the Am
ing rican mocking- bird, the paisano, the qua
Of and beautiful tufted, dove-colOred pa
,ers fridge. The cattle are Of the same ch
With racter as those mentioned IN the meme
wa at San Antonio de Bexar. They ma
h in excellent draught-oxen and good beev
are They have also an excellent breed Ut he
in northern Mexico, which obtain an
,try mense size. They fa;ten easy, and tn
and meat is remarkably sweet and nutrilIo
are AT Tena>o we found mourniul eVideI
ebI J of the insecurity of lite and property
like this unhappy and distracted country
por- few ruined ranches show that there
ated once been a settlement ia this beaut
nand and secluded valley. But lew ye
ara. since las we were informed by Mt
n to can,) IA band OF Cumanches made
utely scent ON its peaceful and unoffendlng 10
rem. bmants, aud slaughtered l2O IN sin
safe. building, where they had hudded toge,
e ar. like flock of sheep scared by prov
had wolves. There is scarcely mile OF
} II march through Mexico, that is not mar
ais to by the wooden cross and pile OF sto
grass sad mementoes that on that spot some
soon creature had met his fate at the hant
On af- ruthless savages, or of his own cour
wea- men. quite as merciless. On more
heat one occasion, when our small advance
ooint. been mistaken, in the distance, for
fering ty of Indians, (for such was Tue rap
which and silence OF our progress, .ha' oui
lish a sence was often snrPrise,) was y
Of the ing to see the women nee 10 tno
L was. where, perhaps, father, moiner'
hav. husband had persisted, and clasPine
on,hs. cross IN their arms, quietly await mai
9 Their tyrdoln when sac eAPeiienSo
,nheit, them to regard as luesi'a .e a,
y, rose On the 90 Uecsno s;,,a,sd on the