Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-06-09

style, and is filed with tawdry ornaments of
gilGed wood and most barbarous pictures. The
Franciscan cor vent is a very large and aeient
pile ofbuildings, thrown together without any
regard to the effect of the whole, and embrace
ing labyrinth of cloisters and passages
There were only four friars in it, one whom,
very old man, saw, but had little converse
tion with him, as he seemed to be feeble.
In the market place, in front of the church,
are sold all kinds of fruits and vegetables, and
various articles of pottery, of peculiarly fine
clay, and of beautiful forms, resembling the
Etruscsn. All cooking utensils, and indeed al
most all the vessel used in Mexico, are Of pot
terry, neither cast iron nor copper nor tin-plate
being employed OIL account of the high price of
manufacture and transportation. l also saw
small Jumps of quick-iime sold; and, on inquir-
ing the object, was informed that lime was es-
sental in making tortuids, or corn cakes, which
from the principal food of the greater part Of
the population of Mexico. The mode of max
ing these cakes has been SO often described
that almost every one is acquainted with it,
To those who are ignorant of this important
branch Of Mexican domestic economy may say
at first that little corn meal is used in Mexico,
because there are few corn mills; and there ara
few corn mills, because there is little demand
for corn meal. Instead of grinding the corn,
they soak it in water with quick lime, by which
the grains are swollen to more than double the
natural size, and the outer husk is loosened, So
that it may be easily detached by washing
After washing in many waters, the mass left is
placed on smooth fiat stone, and kneaded or
rolled with another stone, shaped somewhat
like rollin-pin, until it is reduced to fine
paste, which is then spread into very thin
cakes, and baked on plate or griddle of earth
enware. The same paste. mixed with water
and boiled, forms kind of porridge or Cruel
called atole, which, when sweetened, is very
good, and much used among all classes.
The second great article of food in Mexico
is the frJol, or bean, which is infinitely better
than any other bean have ever tasted; it ia
small, and generally Of dark purple color, but
when boiled has much the appearance of choc-
olate, and is, | am informed, nearly the same
as the co,p pea of South Carolina. The third
necessary of lie is chile, red pepper, of which
the quantity used by each individual daily is al
most incredible. A Mexican covers tortilla
about six inches in diameter with beans stewed
into paste, and then throwing over the whole
a large table spoonful of powdered chile, he
doubles up the mass and swallows it without
any sign Of Inconvenience. have seen per-
sons eat the fresh peppers about as large as
cherries by the dozen, with bread, although
when l applied one of them TO my tongue it
produced on me the effect of white hot iron.
Yet the taste seems to be as easily acquired as
that for ardent spirits: ere ] had been fort
night in Mexico was, in great measure. re-
conciled to these fiery condiments, and could
eat the mole, or devil, which is generally pro-
duced at the end of dinner, without much d.
fficulty.
In the morning Of Monday, the 18th Of July,
l resumed my seat in the stage-coach for Next
CO. On this occasion we had but SIX mules,
which were driven by the coachman on the box
without postilon. The only passenger be-
sides myself was a poor Frenchman, who
seemed Overjoyed to find himself addressed by
me in his native language; by the side of the
driver sat the Correo, or mail-carrier: and on
the top of the coach lay dirty Indian in a rag
ged uniform, who played the part of guard IN
order to make good the assurance given in tho
advertisement that the coach was thus protect
ed against all damage from robbers.
After winding for couple of miles around
the top Of the mountain of Macultepec. on
which Jalapa stands, We crossed the little
stream of Cedeno, where the ascent of the Sier-
re Madre begins. The road passes obliquely
along the side of the Cofre de Perote, towards
the depression of the ridge at the northern part
of that mountain, and presents a series of steep
ascents, interrupted at long intervals by slight
depressions of the surface. Great expense was
bestowed on this part of the road by the Span
iards, who paved it with large blocks of lava;
but, like all works of the same kind executed by
aba ndoned In many places for more convenient
lines of direction. Passing the village OF las
Bdnderiiid, 1.-THE. little flag,) We, in two hours
and half, reached another about ten miles
from Jalapa, called San Miguel del Soldado,
consisting of two or three ruinous buildings and
an immense church Of plastered stone, one Of
those which each great landed proprietor was
obliged by law or by custom to erect on his do
main. At short distance beyond this place
we gained an eminence from which the pros
pect embraced vast extent of country, lDclu-
ding the sea as far south, / was informed, as
Vera Cruz: but ere we could examine it in de-
tail we were involved in thick mist, which
soon changed to a cold drizzle, and were obliged
to draw up the glasses of the carriage.
Ere we had advanced many miles from San
Miguel all signs of tropical country disappear
ed. NV thermometer fell from rs, where 1t
stood when left Jalapa, to 49, and suffered
severely from the change, although prepared
for it by thick clothing and wadded cloak
The rain continued, having all the appearance
of one of our violent northeasterly storms; and
in place of the dense growth of trees covered
with vines, we saw only few pines at inter-
walls, in sheltered places. This was in the 9th
degree of latitude, at midsummer, under sun
directly vertical. At length, after toilng, or
rather climbing, in this manner for another
hour and bali, we reached the village of La
Hoya, 1.-THE holto,C,) consisting of few log huts
in a rock or defle of the mountain; and imme-
ately beyond it appeared scene of the most
extraordinary character. We were at the sum-
NIT of the pass of the Sierra Madre, nearly
mile and half in absolute elevation above the
level of the sea; and were crossing plain
strewed with masses of lava of all sizes, from
fifty feet in height downwards, among which
rose here and there few stunted pines, wretch
ed Vegetable abortions, rendering the desolstion
more desolate by their forlorn aspect. From
where these masses of lava, like SO many gl-
gantic cinders, were projected, is mystery not
Vet fatbomed no sign of a crater having been