The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-04
THE UNION.

in the world; The coffee which / drank gathered from
trees which saw growing OF the finest flavor and
no less delicious the chocolate procured from the
same fields All the other tropical vegetables abound in
PERFECTION and strange say many OF those also which
are considered peculiar 10 the temperate zone and even
to ITS northern portions Never have eaten eSqus
ely favored peaches delicate lettuce, than those
WHICH daily served on the table of Jolly Scotch
andord cC artneypeace be to his soul ans on that OF
my worthy fellow countTyman, Jewett.
The town contained then about eight thousand inhab
an,s, and had pobably held greater number at
previous PERIOD as there Were many deserted houses in
the outskirts. The houses were, already said, gener
ally OF but one story IN height and were almost all built
in the form of hollow square, with court, patio }
surrounded by arcade in the centre. These courts
were usually filed with small trees or shrubs which
presented most pleasing appearance, from the
through the wide doorways while the music of
guitar might generally be heard from within at any hours
The inhabitants seemed be- with few exceptions, OF
mixed blood those of pure European being nearly
all foreigners and this is the case throughout Mexico,
except in the capital The people OF the surrounding
country, OF whom saw great numbers IN the market
place. all apparently pure, nearly pure, Indians
resembling strongly in features the abognes OF our own
States; they very dark and in general short and
stout with dull faces, seldom hg ted up by smile
any other sign OF excitement The dress OF the men
is uniformly sort OF shirt made OF piece OF coarse
blue wooen CLOTH about yard wide, and two and a
half yards long, doubled with slit in the middle for the
passage of the head and sewed up at the sides except
where space is left for holes; this tied about The
waist with rope strap, sandals OF raw hide and a
palm-eaf hat with round crown, form IN general
their whole equipment Some of them, however have
also the serape or blanket, with slit in the middle,
which is universally used in the higher country The
women commonly short chemise and petticoat
though | many without the former article, or any
other covering above the waist than the reboo, scarf
which every woman OF every class IN Mexico, always
carries in place of shawl and bonnet.
The Parroqua church is large old building of plas
tered stone surmouned by dome covered with glazed
tiles and high tower The interior is divided BY two
of columns supporting arches, into and two
side aisle, and by my measurement 220 feet long by
100 wide-lager probably than any church the United
the baltimore Cathedral. the heavy
old bastard Italian style, and is filled with tawdTy
ments of giled wood and most barbaous pictures The
Franciscan convent is very large and ancient pile OF
buildings, thrown together without any regard TO the eli
feet OF the whole, and embracing labyrinth of coisters
and passages There only four irars IN IT. one OF
whom very old man, saw, but had little conversation
with him, as he seemed to be feeble.
In the market place. front oil the church, sold all
kinds of fruits and vegetables and various article OF
pottery of peculiarly fine clay and OF beautiful forms,
resembling the Etruscan All cooking utensils and IN
deed, almost all the vessels used in Mexico OF pottery:
neither cast iron, copper nor being employed
account OF the high price OF manufacture and ranpora
ton. also small Jumps OF quick lime sold and on
nquiring the object informed that lime essential
IN making toraS or corn cak es which form the princl-
pal food OF the greater part of the population of Mexico
The mode OF making these cakes has been so often de-
scribed that almost every acquainted with II to
those who are ignorant OF this important branch OF MeX-
can domestic economy may say at FIRST that little corn
meal is used in Mexico, because there few corn
mills; and there 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 swollen TO more than double
the natural size, and the outer husk is loosened, so
that may be easily detached by washing. After wash
ing in many waters, the mass left is placed on a
smooth flat stone and kneaded rolled with another
stone shaped somewhat like rolling-pin until 1t is re-
duced to fine paste, which is then spread into very
thin cakes and baked on plate grdde of earthen-
ware The same PASTE mixed with water and boiled
forms kind OF poridge Cruel, called dofe, which,
when sweetened Is very good and much used among all
classes.
| The second grea, article of food in Mexico is the
froi, BEAM which is infinitely better than any other
bean have ever tasted; it is small and generally OF a
dark purple soor but when boiled has much the appear
ance OF chocolate, and IS am informed nearly the same
of life chile, red pepper of which the quantity used
by each individual daily is almost incredible. Mexi-
can iortha about six inches IN diameter with
beans stewed into paste and then throwing over the
whole n large table spooniu OF powdered chile, ne
doubles up the and swallows it without any sign of
Inconvenience have persons eat the fresh peppers
about large cherries, by the dozen, with b~d, al
though when applied of them 10 my tongue il pro-
duced me the effect OF white hot iron Yet the taste
seems be easily acquired that for ardent spirits
ere had been a fortnight in Mexico, was, in great
measure, reconced to these fiery condiments and could
eat the mole or devil which is generally produced at the
end OF a dinner, without much difficulty.
In the morning OF Monday, the nth OF July resumed
my seat in the sage-coach for Mexico On this occasion
had but SIX mules, which were driven by the coach
the box without postilon The only passenger,
besides myself was poor Frenchnan who seemed over
loved 10 find himself addressed by in his native lam
guage; by the side of the driver sat the Correo, mail
i'll ragged uniform who played the part of guard, in
order make good the given the advertise
ment that the coach thus protected against all dam
are from robbers.
After winding for a couple of miles around the top OF
the mountain OF Nlacultepec which Jaapa stands we
crossed the little stream OF Cedefo where the ascent of
the Serre Madre begins. The road passes obquely,
along the side of the CORE de Perote towards the de-
preston of the ridge the northern part of that mountain
and presents OF steep ascents interrupted at long
intervals by slight depfessions of the surface Great
pense bestowed this part of the road by the Span
ards, who paved with large blocks of lava but like all
works OF the kind executed by that nation 1T was
more convenient lines OF direction Passing the village
OF Ia Bdnderata (he little fag we, in two hours and
hail. reached another about ten miles from aiapa, called
San Miguel del S0idddo consisting of two three
buildings and immense church of pastered stone,
one OF those which each great landed proprietor was
obliged by law By custom TO erect his domain At
short distance beyond this place gained eminence
try, including the far south, was informed We
Cruz; but could examine it in detail,
involved in thick MIST which changed to a cold
drzzle and obliged to draw up the glasses of the
carriage.
Ere we had advanced many miles from San Miguel
all signs OF tropical country disappeared. My Their
momeer fell from rs, where It stood when left Jaiapa
to 49, and suffered severely from the change although
prepared for IT by thick clothing and wadded cloak
The continued having all the appearance of of
our violent norheasterly storms and in place of the
dense growth of trees covered with vines, only
few pines al intervals, sheltered places This
in the 10th degree of latitude, midsummer, under
climbing, in this for another hour and half,
reached the village OF In Hoyd (e holoU) consisting of
few log huts rock dehe of the mountain; and
mpediately beyond appeared scene of the most