Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-14

silSnt HaVor OF pulIluity, dIlsinS do sonlc soy,
from the hogskns in which il is kept. drank
a glass regularly every day, during my stay in
the country where il is procured: but dM mol
succeed in liking or dislking it; nor could ever
perceive that tproduced the slightest effect OF any
kind upon me-
After leaving Tepeyagualco, the road passes,
Tor many miles, through a wide sandy plain, In
terspersed with lakes, pools, and marshes, all oil
which are salt, as there is no outlet or drain from
this part Of the plateau; and hence the name OF
Ell Saado applied 10 il By the people OF The ada
cen, country. Mountains here rise on every side,
forming apparently river or border TO the plains,
from the middle OF which others are seen protrud-
ing their black, conical heads, all manileslly OF
| volcanic origin. The most prominent masses in
| view are those of Pizarro, The CORE de Perole,
| and Orizaba The latter oil which, al The distance
of some sixty miles in the southeast maintains
en- elevation of nearly two miles in perpendicular
above the plateau. The day was more than usn-
ally clear, though two or ihree showers fell in the
eouoee OF the morning; and had the opportunity
OF Witnessing frequently the extraordinary optical
phenomenon of The mirage, asl also did more sa-
lisiaccrily ON my return The counterfeit lake
often appeared al the distance of mile or two,
skirting the base of some mountain which was
clearly reflected from lis unrufied surface; and on
enc occasion when | was able TO compare The
&emblance with The reality, both being before my
eyes it was Impossible 10 discover any difference
between them-iEe image being as distinctly pain
ted on The ethereal as on The aqueous mirror.
I; is not dffcnii, i conceive, 10 understand the
process by which This plain was produced IN the
midst of steep rugged mountains. ihe noun
tains were thrown up, fiom baio@, probSbly py
emulation from The great liquid mass OF the me
ror OF orr globe through some crack IN us sheh
when they had become solicited in their prese o
shape and cooled, they formed, al This place, 40
immense cavity or cup, which, in time, became
filled with fragments from the moun'sins rolling
down or washed into il hy the rains; nay, the
whole may have formed a lake, The bottom OF
which has been thus gradually raised, until il
reached the height OF the drain provided by some
depression OF the surrounding wall. Such DRAIN
in tact, exists from The lowest part Of the plateau
near Puebla, in small stream called RIO PrIeto
BLACK rirer-one OF The headwaters OF The Yo-
pei, which enters Inc Pacific near Acapulco.
Besides The maguey and lew trees AT some
points, where lilile streams Of fresh water traverse
the plain, the only striking objects of The vegeia-
BILE kingdom seen in This part Of The country, are
the nopat, the species Of cactus called among us
the prickly pair, composed OF thick oyal-shaped
leaves or Iobes growing together, and armed with
thorns or prckles; OF which representation may
be found on The Mexican dollars, IS a part OF The
arms OF the republic. These plants cover The
sides Of The mountains, where they attain size
lar beyond that OF any seen in our greenhouses;
and present the most unSTacelul or rather hideous
shapes imaginable. They are the food ofih cochi-
neal insect, and they produce sort of fig, called
the innn, which has pleasant acid taste. lnnu-
merabe are The species OF cactus seen in these
regions--some like muskmelons, others rcscmb.
ling long snakes, and others again forming fu,ed
columns ten or fifteen ieet in height.
We chanocd our horses (no mules heinp uspd
on this part OF The road) near a village or hacrn-
da called VlTrebes, with large church, as usual;
and thence continuing our route, We reached
about noon vast solitary building, called ei MO
de aqua, he spring: literally, The eye ot lcaitr
with noble spring issuing from the side of hill
i'll lis vicinity. Al some distance from this place,
observed long irregular dark line, stretching
across The plain, and on approaching found il 10
be composed OF horses, probably many thousand
in number, drinking from the stream, which also
serves to nourish The grass forming their food in
its environs. The building is a hollow square,
with walls about twenty-five feet in height, and
no other opening in them than the door or gate on
the road; opposite 10 il stood mass OF manure
ssssy III tf,ssM ri. acsamnaan R 1sshas bX 81
served TO render The borders OF The stream cun-
tnued garden. But such things are not done 10
Mexico. As Ojo de aqua will probably, ere long,
be brough; into general notice, by some despatch
from our army, may say that its pronunciation
is represented very nearly by Oak ko.dayaA. gpah.
From Ojo de aqua We confined our journey,
navigating, as il were in straight lines across The
plain, from point 10 point. One OF these points
was ruined haeHnda; and a very fine ruin il
formed, with lis walls and church-loweIs Of
stone, rendered larger in appearance from The
want of other elevated objects in its vicinity
This spot is approached with some anxiety by
frov 10 In rifn han for hnp ~;
about hundred OF whom, not many years be-
fore, under famous chief named Lopez, had
surprised and captured cOndactG oil specie, alter
routing the soldiers sent 10 guard it. A liue far
,her on the country becomes somewhat better;
and We soon reached a town OF olerably neat ap.
pearance called Nopaluca where succeeded in
getting few eggs for dinner my inquiries for all
other articles being me. by no hay, (osps got
nlone,) uttered in The sharpest tone by most ie-
line lapdlady.
Nopauca is The point of junction Of The two
great roads from Vera Cruz-namely: that by
way Of Jaapa and Perole, over which We had
passed and The Other taking a more southern
course, through Cordoya and Orizaba, and cross
ing The great dividing chain Immediately south OF
Mount Orizaba. The distance is about the same,
and the latter route seems from the accounts to
present better line for highway, though it has
mol, believe, been rendered practicable for wheel |
carriages. From Nopaluca, also, Two roads ex-
tend towards The capital city; one by way Of Pue-
bla, over which wen as will be shown; The olber |
more norlhward, through a town called Hua-
manila, and around The foot OF the great Mount
Malinche, nearlhe ancient city Of Tlascala, 10 The
plains of Apam, from which il passes over The
mountains 10 The valley of Anahnac, or Mexico.
Corlez,, in his first march from Vera Cruz 10 The |
interior, followed very nearly the present road, |
through Jalapa and Perote, 10 Nopaluca or its
vicinity; from which he went directly 10 Tlasca-
Ia. and thence through Oholua, 10 The pass be-
tween Popocalapet and Iz,accpuac, where he
entered The Mexican valley.
At Nopalnca We received an addition to our
company in an old lady, who soon related 10 me
the particulars OF the sack nl The town by band
OF robbers under Don somebody, two years before;
they rfed her house completely, and then beat and
stabbed her in several places in order 10 make her
confess where her money was. She was in
state of constant alarm, and crossed herself each
sound, and al sight of each muleteer who passed
by. We were, 10 lact approaching the Pinal, the
most notorious spot for robberies in The whole Re-
public; and had been urged by the agent al No
paluca 10 take an escort for the remainder OF the
tourney to Pueba; but determined no, 10 To so,
as was convinced that il would serve only 10 in
vie attack Not far from The town We passed
large hacienda, apparently in perfect order, be-
longing 10 Don Miguel Sanchez and in an an
gle of The grounds first saw an aloe .! Elasuey,
in full bloom, with lis great golden flowers glitter
ing in the sun. Aler an hours ride we changed
horses at usnta, or tavern, and then entered The
dreaded region Of the Pinal.
rna means wood, or forest of pine trees;
bu! The name is here given 10 two sleep noun
taius. clothed with pines, between which The road
passes tor ABOUT six miles. My only fears were
for the safety OF my papers, and had determined
10 be perfectly passive, and had with me an
amount of money and other articles, not great
enough 10 make heir loss more than inconyeni
en,, vel sufficient 10 satisfy The Sennres Ladrones,
who are otherwise apt 10 give ulterance TO their
by blows. For The security oil
The papers, placed The package containing them
ON the seal by my side, and kept knife in my
hand ready 10 rip open the envelope and lei them
fall loose in The carriage al the first summons 10
stop, So that there might be no temptation TO seize
them under The idea oil their being articles Of va
lue. Ere we mad proceeded far, could perceive
immense advantages presented to the brigands by
the nature OF the road which is in macy places