Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-08-05

suPpheu' they have directed us whithersocver we
CO. To quarter upon the eneIny.-if this be So il
ao not leopard our subsistence. have no doubt it
will make the mass Of the Mexitlns feel orr nre.
sence far more sensiby than thty have hitherto
done. 1t is doubtful, indeed, whether the LARGER
portion OF them have not been actusly benefited by
our being amongst them.--Every thing thew lave
70 sell brings enormous prces-Btef which MIGHT
nave been bought for cent pound is worth four
or hve, and so with other meats-Ecgs which
Were drug at I'd sell for Scots. the dozen, and
every thing IN about the same proportion.
The war, understand, is operating with pecu
liar benefit. in favor of the peones. Most of the
marketing In our camps and garrisor is carried on
through them and they are reaping quite harvest
from 1t. Many Of them. by their slv oans. have
been enabled to pay of the debts held BY their mas
tiers against them, and thus release themselves from
servitude-i have already, in former letter, de-
scribed this system Of Mexican slavery. 1t has
some features, however, | find, which | was not
then apprised of-A debtor NAV not merely be
compelled to render personal service TO his creditor
but ne may be set up and sold for the debt at the
creditors whlm or convenience. | learn also that
IL is not unirequently the that very Young per-
sons (minors) are thus auctioned off. whether for
their own debts or the debts of their parents am
not Informed. 1t was but a few weeks since that
girl of about fourteen fifteen years of age and
BOY OF about the same age. were publicly sold in
five dollars. and the boy seventy dollars-Thoy
were both bought by American officers, and Sc, at
lberty-the girl Internationally, and the boy upon
a promise to refund the purchase money which I
an, told he has since done, by the profits of some
small traffic which they assisted him to engage in.
NOT Is the system Of Mexican slavery so accidental
In us operation as might be supposed but it is per-
petuated In families pretty much as with us. 1t ia
quite an easy matter for the master so to MANAGE as
10 keep ms Peon constantly in hisdebt, and quite as
easy 10 involve the poems family in the obligation
- nus they are made to form distinct class in
the social sysern-qute as distinct as that of our
own slaves in Virginia.
nave often been struck, since | came to Saltil-
io' with the Immense burdens which some of these
peones are made to carry.-There is an old man
VINO goes many times during the day by INV quar-
ters, with huge box of newly made cake SOAP ON
his backm-load enough nearly should say, for a
mule. The poor fellow goes along half bent. the
box lying on his back, and kept from slipnino off
by cord and band which passes round his fore
head. ''' '''o
The farming utensils of the Mexicans are really
a curiosity.-Ihe only implements of iron are the
noe and the axe that have yet SEEN The ploupb
Is entirely of wood being formed out of the BODY of
'ree, the branches serving for handles. The farm
Vehicle Is also entirely wood, the wheels either
sawed out OF the body of large tree (eenerally the
ebony) or framed Of smaller timber pretty much like
our own wheels, only great deal s,outer, with
spokes and hub The body of the cart is formed of
poles crossing at the four corners and secured with
thongs OF raw hide.-This body is generally abou,
hve feet deep, and when used for transportation on
the road, 1t Is roped over with raw hides.-I have
seen as many as eight hitched To one of these
car,s.IHere' about Satillo, almost every thing is
! packed upon mules.
The Anniversary Of our NationsA Independence
although 1t found us in foreign land was not for
gotten by us.-fiere, at SaltlIo. Federal Salute
was flred at sun rise from Maj. Websters battery
ana at O'Clock we had parade of the troops in
the plaza, whence we moved TO the Almadra. =
large and beautiful shaded garden with ample walks
where the Declaration of Independence wa. read
by one OF our officers, Capt. Henry, of the N. C.
volunteers. In the evening we had fine display
of Fire Works under the direction of I lent Win,
wright of the Ordnance department. the camr
also The day, understand, suitably comment
Grated, by Public dinner, toasts, sperches SC.
| Yours, truly.