Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-05-06

GRAPHICAL ENGINEERS.
MORE than half of the whole State of
Coahulla belongs to two brothers. Sanchez,
who also own some 10000 persons. Seve-
raj of their vast estates are MANAGED bv
stewards, while the remainder are rented.
Their principal town residence is in Saltil-
10; but their favorite country seat is the
magnificent hacienda of Pdtod. This pow
erful family, together with their relations,
the Biancos, YoarroS, and the Zualugos
own nearly the entire State and its p0pula-
ton. They have taken no open or active
part in the present war, and have preserved
friendly and even kindly relations with ma
NY of our officers but the Blancos and San
chezes are understood to be prepared, under
more promising circumstances, to uphold
the Mexican government with their wealth
and influence.
Except for the education of the clergy,
there are no seminaries of learning, deserv-
ing Of the name in Coahuila, but there is
an ecclesiastical college in SaltilIo, of some
reputation, but the course of instruction
seduously excludes everything approaching
to science, and is confined to the classics
and to the reading of the Fathers The
by far the greater portion of the population
are plunged into the most profound ignor-
ance, and can neither read nor write Ma
ny of the better class were formerly sent to
the United States to be educated but for
some years, this plan has been abandoned,
and they are now sent for that purpose to
France and to the city of Mexico.
Four-fiiths of the population of northern
Mexico are of the aboriginal race, (pure, or
mixed in different degrees with Spanish
blood, the lineal descendants of the once
powerful Aztec monarchy. In habits, Gus
toms, mode of life, wants and civilization,
they have probably changed but little, with
the exception of the abandonment of their
barbarous sacrficial rites, since the conquest;
and they retain even much of their original
language. They are good looking people,
and while one seldom sees a very large man
amongst them, they are certainly a well made,
agile and muscular race, who we have been
much in the custom of undertaking; of alb
stemious habits, and of great powers of en-
durance on foot, or on horseback, they
are scarcely equalled as couriers, and are
unsurpassed in marching. 1t may seem a
paradox to say that they possess much boM-
where drawer men would hesitate, and yet
would offer faint resistance when danger is.
upon them. Hence it is that they so often.
fall victims to the Indians
Fancy to Yourself rather light colored
Indian, dressed in pair of leather unmen-
tionables, without suspcnders, huttoning
from the knee downwards, which are usual
ly left open in warm weather for comfort,
and to exhibit the drawers underneath a
common cotton shirt, generally, like our
hunting shirt red sash tied tightly around
the waist, pair of sandals on his feet, and
enormous iron spurs on heel, with heavy
conical felt hat, (that would almost resist a
sabre cut,) on head, and long ashen IRON
pointed goad in hand and you have a per-
feet picture of the rdnCherO, or rather UdcR-
Gro, mounted on spirited poney, with a las
SO at his saddle bow and he is no mean adj
versary for a single man to encounter
The weather. classes dress very much in
the same style, but of richer fabrics their
buttons being usually of silver, and they are
particularly ostentatious in their saddle hous-
ings, which are often overloaded with heavy
silver ornaments. They are also very curl
Gus in the color and pattern of their blan-
kets, and the materials of their coaks.
! The women are rather under what we re-
gard as the medium size, slight in figure,
well formed and graceful; and while few
are beautiful, many of them, while young,
are good looking and agreeable. Their
hands and feet are small, with well turned
ANGLES They have generally white teeth,
good mouths, magnificent black eyes, and
| glossy black halr-in the dressing of which
! they daily bestow much pains. They appear
/ to be amiable and kind-hearted, and are said
to make good wives and mothers. Their
usual dress consists of thin slippers, without
! stockings, a cloth petticoat usually red, and
chemise, which exposes more of the person
than is, in most countries, considered to be
consistent with a due regard to modesty !;
but this is the custom of the country, and
am not disposed to criticise it. With ro-
sary around the neck, and gold earrings, you
) have the female costume complete. When
they 90 abroad, the rebOd is generally worn,
either over the head, concealing the greater
portion of the face, or over the shoulders
like shawl. 1t is worn by all Mexican
women, its quality depending on the condl-
ton of the wearer. To their ordinary do
nestle duties they add the weaving ofrebo0S
and bIoRkets The latter are worn by men,
as an outer covering, and is literally " bed
by night, garment all the day"-Mdny OF
them are of fine texture, and OF great beau
ty of figure and color. Their prices vary
from SO to S75, and even to slOoO' Ma
nv ofthe better class of females are well ed
ucated and accomplished ladies, who would
grace the saloons of the most polished capl-