Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-03-27

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Three fourths Of the houses were not occu
pied a, all, and were fast becoming un,ena.
BILE.
From Preside to Nava, the whole coun.
try 10 perfect level. In the time of the
Jesuits, it was all highly cultivated bu, now
there is not single human habitation be.
tween those two places. In the olden
times, when it was smiling with plentiful
crops Of corn and,grain, and was enlivened
by the voices OF husbandmen-the lowing
OF cows-the beating Of numerous hocks-
the tinkling Of bells, and the noise and hum
OF life-how beautiful it must have been.
compared with its present desolation and
how great the contrast from its present soil.
tude Marks of the irrigating dykes ira.
verse the plain in every direction and a,
distant intervals along the way-side. are
seen the ruins OF many an ancient granary
once filled with plentiful harvests-but
now empty, and fast crumbling back TO The
level from whence they were reared.
| A few miles west OF Nava, and to the
left Of Gen. Wool's trace, there is a beau,i.
full island of timber which the Mexicans call
Ell Arbolada de los Angelos-the Grove OF
the Angels. II is said 10 surround fine
spring of water, and is considered by the
inhabitants as sacred place. This is mere.
| ly mentioned to illustrate the fact, that in
this country, as in all others, where the peo
pie are ignorant and supers,itious, every
natural object of beauty or sublim,y-
whether noun tain, plain, grove, or river
is invested with some name wonderfully
calculated to call forth both poetic and re-
llgious associations.
The IA yyic,,ol
nando de Rosas, containing between three
and four thousand souls. 1t is embosomed
in an extensive mot OF timber, which from
its size, and the character of the trees, We
supposed must have been planted when the
city itself was first built. A fine stream OF
clear water, called Arroyo Esconddo, Hid,
den Creek) runs on nearly three sides Of it,
and stretching oif'on every hand, lies one OF
the most fertile plains in Mexico. There
are two extensive pazas in San Fernando.
each surrounded by the residences OF the
most wealthy citizens, which, although built
OF stone, and in the Mexican style, have
an air Of neatness and Taste, we had hardly
expected to see. The people we found to
be very friendly in their feelings towards us.
and whatever supplies we required, they
furnished with much cheerfulness. When
we commenced our line of march the pex,
day, every eye was turned 10 take one more
look OF San Fernando-literally Of the
Roses. And the scene it presented, with
the quaint dome OF its old church surmoun,
ed by cross, and raising above the sur
rounding foliage, the pure white of lis edi.
tlces, caught here and there through the
dark green trees, and its singular position.
like that OF an oasis, not in desert, but on
an uninhabited waste, was one Of the most
picturesque and pleasing We had ever wit.
messed and one we shall long love to re.
member.
Our course now became more sou,herlv,
the direction being for the head waters OF
the Santarlta, and pass through the Ser
ra de San Jose. We had no, proceeded far
before the country began TO be more sterile
and broken and long ranges of mountains
10 skirt the horizon, both upon our right
hand and upon our left while in front, a
formidable chain Of them presented barri-
err which i, appeared Impossible we should
ever be able TO pass with our artillery and
immensely long train Of wagons. How
ever, as we proceeded, valley after valley
opened before US, through which our road
wound It's way upwards, until at last We
attained their very summit. Even were
there room enough in this letter for such Il
| purpose, It would be Impossible 10 describe
the magnIhcence OF the view then spread
out before US. Toward the east we looked
down on the widely extended plain over
which we had so long been journeving. In
the distance the grove OF San Fernando
was still! visible while at our feet the val
ley OF the San,arlta lay like map, with the
winding course of the river distinctly ,rac
ed upon it by the dark line OF foliage thai
lrnges its banks. Ga either hand the peak.
OF the range upon which we then stood ap
peared less and less as they became more
removed IN perspective, until, IN the far of
blue, their outlines faded from our sight, anc
mingled with the faint fluctuations of the
surrounding horizon. While, in the west
the Sierra de Santa Rosa rose up like
huge and battlemented wall, with its ser
rated crest jutting alo!t in strong relic
agalhs! the clear sky, and its preciptou.
sides hung about with iestoons OF white anC
purple clouds.
i From these mountains we descended
through tor,uous gorge TO the Llano d.
San Jose--a broad plain, extending witt
few Interruptions 10 the foot Of the Sierr,
de Santa Rosa, distance of thirty miles
and our route lay directly across il. Mid
way this plain, and only three miles apar,
we encountered two formidable rivers
the Alamos and Sabinas, which at thei
junction form the Solsdo, an aflluent to tn
; Rio Bravo from the west, and uniting witt
it at Guerrero. They were each about for
ty yards in width, upwards OF four feet il
, depth, and, besides had a current Of almos
incredible rapidItV. In short thay were h