Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-12-10

A MEXICAN DNNER.-The army cores
pendent of the st. Louis Republican, an of
fcer of the Illinois regiment of volunteers,
furnishes the following account of a repast
OF which ne was partaker.
At Santa Rosa, met COL Harvey, : cut.
Colonel Roane, and Capts. Pike and Preston
the last three of the Arkansas regiment of
cavalry. They invited Gen. Shields, Major
Bonneville, and myself to dine with them at
a Mexican house, where they were to have
dinner la Mericana. We repaired to
Mexican mansion, rather better looking than
its neighbors, and entered long room, at
the far end of which were bench, covered
with cushions, and a few chairs. At the
same end was a small piece of carpeting,
which was an extra luxury.
At the lower end of the room, near the
door, was table of very plain workman
ship, consisting of few boards. On this
table was bottle of aguadiente, which was
ianked by number of very small cut glass
tumbers, and guarded, at respectful dis
lance, by single tumbler of water. This
liquor looks and tastes very like old fashion
ed whiskey just from the still, made after
primitive fashions. 1t is distilled from the
juice of the grape, and though not so disa-
greeable as muscal, the ordinary drink of the
country, distilled from the maquez, or CEN
fury plant, which grows abundantly through
out this country, man should be doublv
punished who would get drunk on any liquor
as mean as either of them.
The liquor was soon set away, and dinner
was announced. The table held seven per-
sons. A bench with blanket on it on one
side, and some chairs with raw hide bottoms,
on the other, afforded us seats. ''This is only
the first course said Capt. p, very much to
my relief, on looking at the table. At one
end were all the plates at the same end was
pitcher of coffee with cups and saucerS.
Silver forks and spoons were put along the
table as we do knives and forks, but there
was not knife on the table-a want which
was speedily supplied from our pockets.
The eatables consisted of dish of mutton
ribs, well stewed and highly seasoned, and
dish of boiled rice, seasoned with red pepper
both of which we found very palatabe.
A huge pile of tortillas, in the centre of the
table, formed the last dish. These tortillas
are corn batter cakes, without shortening,
baked on q gridle, the size of hat-crown.
When hot, they taste very well, but when
they are cold they are tough eating. As our
repast continued, our hostess brought in hot
tortillas in her fingers, which she gave TO
Mexican servant of one of the officers, who
put them on the pile on the table with his
fingers, and thence we fingered them off as
we wanted them.
The second course followed the first, con-
sisting of baked beef, in pieces four inches
long and half as thick-well stuffed with gar
lie and red pepper-and was not at all un-
palatable; at least it speedily "folowed in
the footsteps of its illustrious predecessor"
The third course consisted of buds of red
pepper fried in butter, with the kernels of the
pecan. This was pronounced delightful by
the electrified assembly; and, in my judg-
ment, was good eating, and sufficiently hot
for cool day.
When the fourth course was served up, we
could not tell what it was, from its appear
ance, but our landlady's Spanish was soon
translated into understandable English, in
forming us that it was the green pods of pep
per stuffed with pecans, raisins, &C., and
fried in batter. "Most delicious" exclaimed
both colonies, which was encored by both
captains-Major B. and myself charged on
with our forks and spoons, supporting the
cavalry as infantry should. But they pep
pered us so that it was too hot for us-for, in
a moment after, | heard the major exclaim-
ing, ''agua, aqua water, water-I have
swallowed a vocanow His wants were
soon supplied, and after taking a long swig,
and longer breath. and blowing his lips out,
he calculated, "Why a man had as well eat
red hot lava"
Taking the hint from the major, touched
rather lightly round the edges of this dish
but the two colonies "went it strong" until
the last ration of the pepper was distributed;
from all which draw the inference, that the
infantry are far exceled by the cavalry in
standing hot charge of pepper.
A good cup of coffee was now handed
round, and concluded our repast. A tum-
bier OF water was then handed to each of us,
as is the invariable Mexican custom at the
close Of meal. We arose from the table
with high praises of Mexican cookery, and
the inward conviction of having eaten good
dinner.