Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-01-19


prove interesting others of that class of rea
ders
CAMP BUENA VISTA, (Mex.) Nov. %, al.
Dear -: Having nothing to employ me this
evening, I have concluded to devote it TO you, in
giving you some account Of the animal and
vegetable world herein Mexico.
The domestic animals have heretofore had &C.
casion to speak of shall therefore confine my
self to what is commonly called the game of the
gentry. The bear and deer are quite abundant in
the mountains, and arc frequently shot by our sol
diers who go out OH hunting excursions Of rsb-
bits there two species. one pretty much like our
own, and another which is denominated amongst
us the jackass rabbit, account Of its long ears.
1t is very large, being about the size of good
fawn, to which it bears some slight resemblance,
its ears, as it sets them, looking good deal like
| horns.
In the feathered line, wild geese and ducks may
be said to be very abundant along the large streams
the former particularly. The Rio Grande was
literally lined with them as we came up. The
wild turkey is also said TO be plenty. Ofpartridgos
there are two kinds, the blue and the common one
we have.-And Of doves there are two kinds, one
like our own and another little more than half its
size but with all the habits of our dove. There is
also species of daw along the San Juan, which is
very numerous-It is perpetually singing, or chat
tering, and although its ..otes simple there is
something in their full chorus which is very de-
| lightful. The Mexican eagle is diminutive bird
compared with ours The parrot is quite pretty,
in plurnage like those you have seen, but it is
|
mocking bird is delightful singer, exceing
own, think, and somewhat larger in size. AS to
the other birds, can say little of them they
TO be complete mixture of all sorts pretty much
like the people.
As to reptiles and insects they are innumerable,
and of the most oathsome kinds. The rattesnake,
the centpede, the tarantula, the scorpion, the
loahsome chappaTal lizard, and the horned toad,
make up a part of the variety.
You have heard of the Maguay plant. Like the
cactus, it is converted into great variety of uses
by the Mexicans. 1t makes a handsome and Sc
cure hedge, and is often cultivated in that way,
taking up, in single row, about the space of one
Of our Virginia worm fences. The leaves shoot
out from the sides alternately one above another,
starting close at the ground and bending upwards
in beautiful curve. They are of deep green CO.
lor, very stout and strong, sometimes five six
feet in length, eight or ten inches broad at base,
and three four inches thick, tapering to sharp
point the sides turning up somewhat in trough
shape. The stem which the plant sends forth in
the Towering state, is tall and beautiful shaft,
rising from the centre, or browning leaves, six
eight feet, and is nearly the thickness of a mans
have not seen the plant in flower, but it is
by missions into the stem when the bloom is out
that the puque ESQ famous amongst the Mexicans)
is obtained, and the quantity which single plant
yields is truly astonishing. have been told it Of
ten amounts to one or two barrels. Besides many
more ordinary uses TO which the leaves convert
ed they make an excellent substitute for hemp
The Mexicans manufacture quantities of rope and
bagging out of its bres and they also used for
shoe-thread. In appearance they are something
like weed but Of very different nature, being
easily injured by dampness.
The pulque is usually kept in hog skins.-l have
seen some of them just prepared for the purpose
They were inflated, and had the appearance Of a
hog just put through the scalding and cleansing
process, with head, feet and all on. My attention
was attracted to them by seeing Mexican carry
ing two of them, one in each hand, which would
have been, as it struck me at the time, remarka-
| bic fete, from their size, if they had been what
took them to be.
! The cactus is found here in great variety, from
the common prickly pear, which grows to an enor-
nous size, to the finest and most delicate species,
as delicate as wax work. / have seen some in the
form of tree, with round body and limbs growing
to the height of six feet; some in the shape Of
ball, (the size of good apple,) half buried in the
ground some in pineapple shape; others with
long sharp spear'd leaves, and Others covered with
thorns like the spurs of chicken. The bloom of
some of them is said to be beautiful and several Of
! them would suit very well for pot plants.
The cactus bush is the favorite home Of the
cochineal insect, (for am not aware that it feeds
upon it,) and it is certainly of the most beau
tiful insects | ever saw. 1t is a rich crimson all
over On the march from China to Monterey, we
saw great many of them at one of the ranches
which had been desolated few years ago by the
/ Camanches.
! have seen no very splendid flowers in Mexico
! although there many to me, and some
quite beautiful. There is one the Mexcans call
the ''Nliras de SOL" Of every shade Of color from
white to pink, which, when properly mixed, produ-
ces beautiful effect. 1t seems a favorite flower
of the Mexcans and is very much cultivated in
their yards. Yours, sc.
------------------r-
CONGRESS.
On Monday, January 10, the Senate, after some
unmportant business had been disposed Of proceed