The New York herald., 1849-02-04
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY A. 1s49.
Texan News.
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From the Western TEXAN, Jan.6.l
ROUTE TO CHHUAHuA.-We have conversed
with gentleman who accompanied Colonel Hays
on his late expedition to the Rio Grande, to dis-
cover new route to Chihuahua, and we are gra-
thed TO find that he positively asserts that the
route from Houston to Chihuahua is far superior
to any that can be opened from any point on the
coast west of the Brazos. He is so fully satisfied OF
ths fact that he intends TO return in few weeks,
with quantity OF goods, to Chihuahua. He will
proceed to the head of the San Saba, thence in q
direct line to the point on the Pecos where the
Inihushua m exped,ti9n, crossed a. y IN is4G and
the Presidio del Norte From the latter town to
Chihuahua there ls good wagon road leading by
San Pablo. The distance from the Presldio to
Chihpahua is only leo miles, BY road practicable
which can be travereed only by mules and horses,
which Is only $50 miles, The distance from Hous-
ton to the head of the San Saba is estimated at
2e0 miles Thence Ia the Pecos 80 miles, and from
crosses il, to the Presdo, ls l30 miles. The dis
tance then from Houston to Chihuahua by this
route Is $50 miles; and the whole route is practi
able tor wagons The distance from lndepen-
dtnce, in Missouri, by the route now travelled by
caravans, ID 1850 miles. The route by Houston,
therefore, ID about one halt as long as that from
Missouri, and caravans can start from Houston as
early as the lat of January while they can seldom
start by the Missouri route, until the lst OF May
Col. Hays mentions that the best route from Bex.
ar, or any OF the western ports, must necessarily
pass by the head of the San, Saba, owing to the
vast ranges OF mountains that extend below the
Pecos to the Preside de Rio Grande. The vast
range OF the BOlson de Mapimi also extends in an
irregular semlcIrcle on the west side of the Rio
Grande, curving upwards, nearly TO the mouth OF
the Conchos, and shutting out all communication
with the valley of the Rio Grande below San
Pablo.
The only practicable route, therefore, from
Map,ma, is that leading by the Preside de Rio
Grande and Montclova, to Parras. This ls the
route that Gen. Wool took from Bexar. The dis
tance from Bexar to Parras is about $50 miles, and
thence to Chihuahua is 800; making the whole
distance from Bexar to Chihuahua go miles; and
the distance from Corpus Christi, Aransas, Mata-
gorda, or any other point on the Cult west of the
Brazos, cannot be less than 1000 miles. II, how
Maplml, and travel in a direct line to Chihuahua,
the distance would not exceed 600 miles. Houston
has this advantage; that it is situated in the same
latitude as the point on the Rio Grande where the
crosses that nver. This 10 the mouth of the
Conchos, near the Preside del Norte. This point
and Houston are both situated on the parallel of
80 dege1 nSIh lat a3tSds The route from Hou
Houston, and all the ports on the Gulf are go far
south Of this parallel, that the route from Hous-
ton is the nearest. This gentleman also informs
us that the route to the Preside del Norte extends
through beautiful and fertile country, afordlng
an abundance Of pasturage and good water.
Col. p. II. Bell arrived in town last evening,
from Austin. He informs us that the Indians (sup-
posed to be the Kickpoos and Wichitas) on the
northern frontier, have recently manifested symp-
toms Of hostility.
Tie ranging companies of Capts. McCulloch and
Highsmith have lately been paid off at Austin, and
the other companies, with the exception OF the
company under the command OF Capt Fltzhugh,
have probably teen also paid off and mustered out
OF service. We have been informed by Capt. GIL
lett that the company Of Capt Fltzhugh, according
to the orders of The War Department, had aban-
doned its station on the Trinity, and taken up Its
line OF march to Austin, to be mustered out of
vice but after 1t had proceeded about seventy
miles runners arrived with the startling intelll-
gence that the Indians had made foray upon the
ing in all directions. The rangers Immediately
returned to the station, and we understand that
they have been ordered by Col. Johnson to remain
there until they were relieved by the troops In the
regular service.
[From the Houston Telegraph, Jan. 1sl
PAINTED ROCKS OF THB COMMANCHRs.-At the
head of the south fork of the Llano, there is high
limestone cliff which IS covered with rude paint
ings, representing Indian chiefs in their war cos
tune, horses, mules and other animals, also a
variety of fhIeroglyphlca figures. These paintings
are made chiefly with vermilon and charcoal,
but are go well sheltered from the rains, by pro-
jecting ledge Of the cliff above, that very few of
them are defaced, although. they have been ex-
posed for years to the weather. An old Mexican
who accompanied Col Hays on his his late
expedition to the Rio Grande, stated that
these paintings appeared as fresh and perfect
forty years, ago as they appear at this day
These rocks are often. visited by the Com
manches, and are held in great veneration oy
them. They seem to be regarded as the historical
of figures probably represent the victories they
have achieved, or the defeats they have sustained
in their wars with the neIghboring tribes, or with
the whites. One OF the groups is probably intend
leans when the neighborng fort ofthe San Saba was
captured by these indians. Near the cliff large
Indian trail winds through the valley and over the
table lands above 1t towards the sources OF the CO.
this cliff; andit that they perform certain
religious ceremonies before II before they start
any dangerous expedition, and when they return
from any succe ssul foray they come here to record
the deeds Of their distinguished chiefs. A broad
and beautiful grassy plain exte nds southwest from
the clf, and Is walled IN at the southwest and
north by steep precipices. This plain has probably
tor many centuries, like the Oympian plains, been
the theatre OF festive games, In which the Com
manche youths Of successive generations have dis
played their eymDastc feats.
Gov. Wood passed through Houston on the 10th
inst, on his way TO Austin.
Maj. Thomas Bates, Clerk of the U. s. District
Courl at Galveston. died a few days since on the
Brazos. from the effect OF an appoplectc mt with
which he was attacked few days previous.
The weather at Houston has been intensely cold.
Ice half an inch thick was formed.
The practlcsbtv OF navigating the Brazos by
steam, TO Washington and above, which was
clearly and completely demonstrated some years
since, is fact which at length begins TO yield Its
proper results The new steamers Brazos and
Washington, built expressly for this trade, have
ascended the river to Washington, and returned to
the mouth the Washington with 524 bales ot cot
ton, the Brazos with 3S7, making Gil at one trip of
both boats. The trip was made with much cau-
ton, in order to obvate any accident from the
want of familiarity IN the pilots with the snags or
or other distractions IN the river.
Domestic Miscellany.
DR. Ofgood, pastor of the frat church of