The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-10

BY ROBERT cREENHow.

liant army under its accomplished chief, General Scott
idly in my description OF the road TO Mexico, lest
l should be passed on the way by some fresh des-
patch from headquarters, dated Puebla, or mayhap,
Mexico General Scott doubt entered Jalapa on
the Goth April and WILL probably with his usual pru-
dent diligence have sent forward advance under Cen
Twiggs or Worth to occupy the pass IN the great dy
place will under this hypothesis, have been occupied BY
our troops about the 26th OF the month.
concluded my second number with the account OF our
arrival the town OF Perote, the 18th July, 1897
Perote stands in plain at the distance OF lew miles
from the foot OF the Coe, and at the height OF TOO iee
Msxico-the great mich cow, from which the cream OF
all subsequent accounts of that country has been drawn
The town consists of low houses, with few doors OF
windows in 'front.' extending for some distance along 'ie
road and has been well built, though II is now IN
dilapidaied condition. The hotel is one OF tne oes' VI
these houses containing moderate szea pdo o - ,h
ward with arcades the centre and from me size VI e
rooms and the carved stone conices the windows
seems to have been once the habtaton OF some ch OF
distinguished family Inc ,G e ony 1i he exterior having
been prevented from entering 1t on my ms, VISIT 70
Perote BY ndspositon and on my return oy ndoenee
indifference Ii is merely large oblong enclosure, OF
hrI stone walls with bastons at the angle surround
ed by ditch; and could never have been intended tor
any other purpose than as stronghold lof loops anu
and OF bullion for expectation Against foreign invasion
woud be useless as 1t commands no pass, and might
either be taken be left, without apprehension by any
force which would venture to penetrate thus lar INTO the
interior. The town enjoys, should think Justly, IRON
the appearance OF the people, the reputation oil pen Inc
most vlanous spot in Mexico and strongly recalled 10
my memory TerIracna, Fond lui Mola de Gaeta, and
the other famous haunts OF bandlt on the road between
Rome and Naples The population is about 200, and
more mscreant looking set have never SEEM even III
the respectable places last mentioned
Being much indisposed reaching Peroe, was anx-
ious to obtain order to retire immediately;
but the landlord rude fellow, found all DIexcans
Of the middle classes be, would pay no attention TO
my request and should probably have suffered severely
but for the kindness of his wife who took me under her
protection She carried me into snug little room, ana
having caused thicker (or, she termed tatter-ads
gordo) mattress be placed on the bsdstead and a
sheepskIn the floor carpet, soon louhd my sen
more comfortable.
had brough, letters from General Castro 10 the COM
1nandant the fortress and TO those of the other posts
the way, in his department. recommending nat al al
tention should be paid to me- and that IL desired IL,
escorts of dragons should be furnished by EACH IN sue
cession far Puebla The stage coaches were al hai
time robbed pretty regularly week the road
between Perote and Puebla and the coachman who was
TO drive on the following day, had his arm IN sing In
consequence OF wound received by him the last oc
casion OF this kind, since which ten days had elapsed
Tue probability was therefore great OF our being over
hauled BY the Seiores Lddronea robber always con-
sidered gentleman In that part OF Mexico; and al
though placed not the slightest faith IN the escort as
means protection Of intimidation did not consider
myself authorized TO risk the destruction OF the Vauaoe
papers under my charge farther than absolutely ne
cessary, by emitting 10 employ The only measure al my
disposition Tor their security accordingly addressed
letter the commandment of the castle enclosing The one
from General Castro and requested escort OF Ve ORA
goons for the following mornings apoiogisng at the same
Of my nispositon.
The landlaly had promised TO find lad -no-o-to
carry this communication; and when turned alter VIII
ting to deliver the messenger who had entered the
ROOM saw figure hich made start with surprise.
The mesfi-o, about SIX feet IN height wrap
ned his pary-colored -erdpe, or blanket when was
folded AMI drapei most eactvely his dark tTowsers,
open he outside of the leg showed wide drawers OF
white, linen; his broad brmmed sobrero, with
feather in Il sat obqucy on ms n head and long
from beneath his Blanket All these equipments, added
to his tall form and daredevil counienance. composed n
model for bandit and could no, help thinking OF the
rounds OF applause which he would receive such char
aeier iii melo-drama Al the Park theatre at New ork
The messenger returned with polite note IRON
the comnandant, Don Diego Mana de Aeae, lnclosng
an order Ion the dragons on the oncer OF the post IN ne
town; and this having been sent to It's decon the OH
soon appeared and promised that the escort shou De
ready to accompany the stage the morning This I'M
porant matter being settled went to sleep from when
was aroused three in the following morning to con
time my Journey towards Pueba The night was dark
and saw nothing until arrived at small village OF
three houses called Santa GetrudIs from which
TO the next place Tepeyaguaco course was by day
Light This of the most dangerous parts OF the
country regards robbers the road lies along the south
base Of huge bare mountain OF volcanic formafop
called the Cero de P-aro the surface on inc o,heE sae
large size srewed about in such manner as TO AFFORD
every facility for conceament while its entire barrenness
from which IT derives its name OF Matpohe desert
by excluding all population destroys the sk OF detection
or interruption. The Dragons gaoped along by the
side of the coach they were all small men, mounted on
On reaching Tepeyagualco, dismissed them with SIX
reals cens) to each man. except the corpo-
raj who received dollar usual such cases; and
having determined to ask for Others, we conn
ued our journey unprotected
had been very anxious to taste pulque, pronounced
poofkay) the universal drink of the people In the upper
regions of Mexico; but did not consider II safe to ven
tuTe the experiment at Perote AT Tepeyagualco
made the first attempt and drank of whole pint tum-
bier, without apprehension. considering the
state of my system the time 1t is the sap or juice OF
the maguey pronounced nah gdy-ee) great American
aloe. which cultvated-thatis to say plantedfor the
purpose, as afterwards touched, until the Ii
quor is drawn from it. This latter process performed
on the plant about the eighth tenth year Of its growth
when the cone in the middle swes, and lett alone
would shoot up rapidly IN stalk twenty or thirty ee IN
height and then throw out at the top its magnificent
lunches or brushes of flowers. But SO soon as the
swelling has advanced certain extent, the whole
trail portion Of the plant cut out as to leave conf
cal hollow its place and into this hollow rises the
sap Juice, which daily removed so long as the sup
ply lasts The sap, thus collected suffered to erment
for few days, after which 1t is ready for and the
process is always going season of the year being
preferable to any other regards the disposition of the
plant TO flower that where the plantation is extern
sve the supply is and certain, and the returns
immense il there be large population IN the vlcn
lily TO consume it. After the liquor has been all extracted
the plant is up and another is set out IN Its place
The pulque has very much the appearance and consls
tency of milk and water, and sparkles little from the
extricaton Of gas its taste subacid and rather in
spd than dsagreeable, except slight flavor OF putrid
ty arising say, from the hogskns in which IT is
kept drank glass regularly every day, during my
stay in the country where procured but did not
succeed in liking disliking it could ever per-
ceve that produced the slightest effect OF any kind upon
me.