Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-05-08
SKETCHES OF MEXICO.

cal Engineers, has furnished some sketches of
"Scenes beyond the Rio Grande," from uum.
Der of which we take the following.
The state Of Coai,ula contains about 93OOO
square miles. with population Of only l25, 900,
or not quite one and balfto the square mile
Two thirds Of i's surface is "a level plain, and
the remainder consists of mountains and narrow
fertile valleys More than hall of the whole
state belongs to the two brothers Sanchrz, who
also own some 80 coo peons Several of
their vast estates are managed by stewards,
while the remainder are rented. Their
principal town residence is in Sa1iillo; but their
favorite country seat is the magnificent haci.
enda Of Paios. This powerful family, together
with oil their relatives, the Bancos, Yoarros,
and the Zunlugoe, own nearly the entire state
and its population. They have taken no active
part in the present war, and have preserved
friendly and even kindly relations with many
OF our officers; but the Blancos and the S,nche.
yes are understood TO be prepared, under more
promising circumstances, TO uphold the Mexi.
can government with their wealth and inf,u.
ence. Nearly all our expenditures for supplies
have found their way directly or indirectly, in.
TO the Golfers Of these prncely nabnbs.
Four. 6fths of the population of Northern
Mexico are the aboriginal race, (purc, or mixed
in different, degrees with Spanish blood.) the
linea descendants OF the once powerful Aztec
monarchy. In habits. customs, mode OF life,
wants and civilization, they have probably chan
ged but little, with the exc~p,,ou of the sban
donment of their barbsrous sacrifcial rites since
the conquest, and they ever retain much OF their
original language They are . good looking
people, and while one seldom sccs a very large
man among them, they are certainly a well.
made, agile, and muscular race, who we have
been much in the custom Of undertaking; Of
sbs,e,nious habits, and Of gres, powers Of en-.
durance on foot or on horseback. They are
scorccly equalled az conriers. and are unsurpss.
Fed in marching. !, may see,n paradox 10 say
that they possess much bolducss and littc
courage: they would venture where braver
men would HESITATE, end yet woud ofTa- 'nini
'VeN""SS "bSH 70 uP'"
it is that they 30 often fall victims to the Indi.
ans.
The women are rather under whs, we re-.
gard the medium srAe, slight in figure, well
,ifu'. many of them, while young, are good
looking and agreeable. Their In nds and feet
are small. with weil.trrrrd enAtes. They
have generally white teeth, goal mouths. mag.
nifcent black eyes, and glossy black balr. in :.r
dressing Of which they daily bps,ow much pains
They appeal 10 be amiable and sind.hesr,ed
and are said to make t1sod wives and Others
They are clesn;y in heir habits, for most Of he
towns and haciendas being situated on rnnnine
streams, they have every advantage for ta,lt!np
Of which they nvall themselves most librrlly
without eheumbering themselves with much
super6ucus clothing. Their usual dress con
sists OF thin slippers. without Stockings. a clot
pc,,icoat, usually rcd, and chemise, which ex
poses more Of the person than is, in most coun
lilies. considered to be consistent with a duo re-
gard to modcsty, ba, this ia the custom ot ths
cnnn.ry. and nih not dsposrd to cr.,i,ise j,
! With rosnry around the neck. and gold ea
rings, and you have the female costume ccm
pIe,e.
NJ. xican cnnsery is, 10 nv tae,e. aetes,able
but many Americans. less fas,idious, perhaps
aTct to like il. Every thing is rendered as no
as fire b. red pepper which enters in cnor
J rnnns pns M, "A p esscnfisI in IN PA
dent. The favorlie in Mexico, is the .Grijoi
! Qribbony) which is universally brought oil tn,
table asa bon 6ouche. It consists of snal
brown. b!ack-eyed beans, boiled six or egh
hours in soft water and then m &ed with n,eliet
lard and salt. II is. when thus cooked, ven
agreeable vegetable. Another article O; iood
and almost as great favorite. is the ioriitio =
II is prepared by boiling maize in pretty strong
ley, of ashes which separates The huss. II Il
afterwards washed in clean cold wat,rtlll al
the impurities are removed. and it is then mush
ed tor know no, better how to express il OF
a short stone table placed in an inclined posi-
into a soit plastic paste. woman then, wet
ting her hands, III is TO be hoped that they hsv,
been previously well washedl takes up a small
portion OF the dough, and by dexerously shifting
il from one hand to the other. pstting il at ih'
same time. land ptodutings loud uose] soo'
brings Il TO the required consistency. shape. ant
siks Il is then baked on gridlle, and takcI
hot 70 the table. where il serves the triple pdr
pose Of bread, forks, and spoons. With butte
il would, no doubt. make a palstsble bread; bu