Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-27
TIC enquirer,
ROUGH NOTES-fNo. Ill

ROUGH NOTES-[No. H.
The country bordering on the Rio Grande is
in many particulars similar 10 that lying on the
'diss'ssIppI. Place the same population, with
the same Government, upon the former, and il
would, in my judgment, be pr, ferable 10 the lat.
ter. But that small portion OF the Mississippi
valley, whiches below New Orleans, varies in
nothing important in soil and climate from the
valley Of The Rio Grande, as far as | became
acquainted with II, Give hundred miles, Tho
latter has some advantages even over the for.
mer. Perpetual Spng reigns in each, and
oranges bloom and ripen throughout the year.
The water that flows over the banks of the
Mississippi, during freshets, never returns, bu;
II ds It's way to the Gulf through Bayou. or
settles in pestilential lakes and swamps, 10 be
eyaPorated BY the sun, and incorpor ted with
the atmosphere. That which runs GU. of the
Rio Grande, for the mo part, is abs rbed by
the porous soil adjoining, or returns to the
channel Of the river on the subs cling of the
food. The quantity Of timber, on the portions
OF each river under consideration, is about equal:
but that on the Rio Grande is the most du.
rable-the MusIeet, which lasts about equal 10
our Cedar or " lid Locust ] he Cotton wood
is the Kind mostly growing upon the Mississippi,
as far as the mouth Of the Ohio. Thi. wood IS
OF The Same order as that Of cur common vr.
sinia Poplar, and decays as sorn. The country,
from the mouth Of the Rio Grande 10 the iunc
lion OF the san Juan, five hundred miles up,
produces, even under it, rude culture, an abun
dance Of corn. The natives plough only oxen,
tho yoke Of which is fastened back of The horna
with thongs Of raw hide, no bow being used :
The plough hoe is Of wood, which is fastened
into another piece OF wood, and winch being
crooked nearl, at right angles serves both for the
handle and the beam. One man or boz holds the
handles, while another drives forward the oxen
with goad. The nj IS scratched with this
plough once before the planting; and one plough
IN afterwards, ith The choppng Of ie@
brushes, completes the cultivation. The corn
hills ,tand about two feet apart, with from three
10 six stalks in hill, and produce q large
amount o the acre. The open, uncultiyated
and is fine for paslurages. The fences arc made
BY planting posts Of tho Muskccl wood in the
ground, some four feet asundcr, nearly in a
straight line, and arranging brush wood between
them, packed close down 10 The height Of three
or four feet. The houses, except in the towns
and large ranches, are built in the shape OF our
V.rgi country cottages, with 81 ping root
and perpendicular sides, generally with d or
in the eud, but no chimney the cooking being
done in an clubhouse Of similar construction,
also without chimney. The shape is Identical
with our Virginia country cottages The Slcxi.
cans form the frame Of their building with six
forks OF VOID, supporting three poIes-one, the
ridge pole-and Two, at the caves, on four
lower forks. Tn frame is covered with reeds,
or the leaves of the cabbage-trec, tied with
raw hides, or neatly strung OH poles or canes.
There is no loft, and the floor is the ground
III az, IL nG TING
dwellings, and is iractised by Indian trib-s, and
even by the more enlightened natives or set
tiers Of the country below New Orleans. J.
forms a pleasant dwelling in all such eli.
mate, es thoso II - --'ior r. -, -.
Grrande cotton grows 10 a great height
and will, tho natives say, put up from
the same rool for several ycars-Ihc VIM
Ter being loo mild TO destroy lis vitality. lhlnI
i, NAV be conceded, as a settled point, tha. our
government and laws are destined 10 spread owe,
those States. |! not by conquest, our people VIII
sradsaIly move in That direction, ana gain POS
session OF the country by purchase from ihdiVi'
duas, as il would be more productive IN posses
sion Of the industrious, enlerprisns and resist.
less North Americans than OF any ether people,
and there ore, il must fal into their hands. Inc
monarchical, sayish governments oi Europe arc
lettering 10 their ial aud il is evident lhat The UNI
trd STATES erpe,inHGt OF sell government IS des.
lined 10 supsrcede all others 10Th IN the old and
the new hemisphere; and, ere long, the sunny
plains oil The Rio Gfande will be lcrming WIN
the bold, industrious, North American, under the
benign laws OF his naive country.
Game of various kinds abounds-wiid geese
all the year, turkeys, deer, armadilIoe>, prairie
hens, pattridges, rabits-besidcs bears, paninefs
and wolves, and perhaps many oIher EInos;I
wild horses and hoga ale p!cnlinl. The WHO
horse or must ing, in his native Siaie, is most
beautiful annual; with his arched neck ard
eyes Of fire. he seems, in his fight over his la
i've plains to ou.slfip the whiilwind, and ior q
long time, when pursued, he avoids inc lasso o.
his willy huner, hut is al las, entrapPed, and, al
Ter few desperate ef!ors iUT liberty, he is led
csnlive with pendant ears and dropping neao, 10
The rancho Of his Mexican master, where he
noweriul lever bill is placed in his moulf; IN a
lew hours he is Salloping along under me weigh!
# his capror perfectly manageable n good
mustang may be bought al Camar2o icT i've
dollars.
For every few hundred yards along the river j.
seen the dead carcass OF horse or COW SLICK
irp in The mud or hJatius in The siream-1he
natives being 100 carol SIS or too lazy either TO
max. good, fl NJ and accessible watering places
Er their sock, or to pull them out when they &c.
nreJ. They never skin ananmal that dies Ia
his way A scho i miss or lippy b'au would
nrn up is nose al mention OF lmtUiag sucn re-
veraye "a this, but il is all the water mat can D.
had here and has few horrors !os the hardy, hold
soldier. H.. ~
The Union, refe ring to the Barnburn.rs' no.
minatlon, says:
uuar,in Van Buren,, By throwing him ELF into