The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-13
NO. 5ess.
The Tehuantepec Route TO the Pacific.
NEw YORK, Dec. 2S, lS49.

NHw YORK, Dec. 2S, IS49.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT Esq:
Having recently observed number OF letters, and
extracts from letters, in the leading journals Of
this and other cities, purportlng to describe the
Guazacoalcos river In Mexico, and considering
the important influence which such communities
lions are calculated to exercise at this time-espe
eially when the question OF a locality for ship
canal or railroad (unitiDg the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans) is beipg discussed-I beg leave to offer
few extracts from the journal of an officer in the
United States bomb brig Sromboli, stationed fol
many months in the nver referred to-prefacins
and ipterlining them, however, with such unre
corded facts and circumstances as may not prove
unacceptable to parties about to become interested
After delay of some ten days or more at Anton
Lizardo, in the beginning of May, 1917, we
weighed anchor, by order of the commodore, and
steod out through the Bsnquilla passage, e., route
70 the Guszacoalcos river, off which already the
Adams and Decatur were then blockading The
distance from Vera Cruz, though less than l2O
miles, occupied some three days to overcome.
In consequence Of light battling winds, and a
strong and variable current, which at one time
set us 10 the norhward, and subsequently SO
tar 10 the eastward oi our destination, that on
making the land, we discovered ourselves of the
mouth Of the Tonaiada River, branch of the
NIudZdCOdlcOS empty ing lntO the gull Twelve miles
10 the eastward. Here, night coming on, and the
soupdings varying from sixteen to ten fathoms.
we dropt anchsr-the most eastern point OF land
IN sight, bearing E. N. b., and the most western
=. w. At day light We again weighed, and be at
along the coast until p M, when we came-to in
twelve faihoms, of the bar of the Guazacoslcos,
where We found the flag ship IN company with the
vessels of the blockade. The latitude (lSs IL NJ
and the Longitude, (94e IL E,) as laid down in
the tables appended 10 Bowdlich's Navigator, we
scertalned to correspond with our determination
of it.
The entrance to the river (Which is about an
eighth OF a mile IN breadtn) lies nearly north and
south, and continues IN that direction, gradually
widening with narrow ntcked lagoons and stag
nant marshes on the let, tor about three miles,
when il takes a southeastery course. The land on
the right bank al the entrance (upon which Is sit
uated the ruins O ola watch tower, fort aud bar
racks, the only distinguishing landmarks, blythe
by) Is somewhat elsvaied. but slopes gradually
towards the sea and 10 the south aud west, IN
which directions (but more intenory) broad and
Nighly cultivated pain, dotted with heads OF cat
te, and solitary hacienda meets the eye, while
farther beyond, to the DOrtnard and westward, the
blue summit of Sierra 81 M artin terminates the
view. On the shore, the land Is less elevated,
and more swampy, but covered with thick copse
OF small trees and species OF prickly chapparal,
which Is almost lnpeneirable. Here, just within
the mouth OF the river j. located q ilne natural
spring from whence cool aud sparkling water is al
ways Procurable, except during the RAINY season,
(which commences la the latter part of une and
ends in the month If February when the basin
is oveIowed by the rlsDg and the source ofthe
little ryulet, srtwn with dead and decaying leaves,
which mpart TO It's waters dark turbid color, and
unwholesome taste. In this case, however, an
abundant supply may he obtained on the opposite
shore, lust al the foot Of the hill, where bed has
been dug BY the soldiers Of the garrison for the
sce Ption ol the water trickllDg down The banks In
the rainy months. Both sides 6f the rlver abound
in hares, pheasants, wild cats, macaws, monkeys,
bittems, buzzards, aud hthy-losking lizards.
IeVA alS IN s,ur nh-eu mt mai nn fpY
game, We discovered several most prolific little
groves Of msngoes and lemonClllas, bemmed in
invariably by dense and almost impossible hedges
.of chapparai The latter-Damrd fruit seems TO be
peculiar TO this part OF Mexico alone and posse sses,
as IL were, the mingled flavor OF a dozen others
as the pine apple, the guiva, the orange, and the
lemon, which latter u strongly resembles, IN many
respects. The margin at the gulf, and the shores
of the nver for some distance W, consist ot tne
light sand, strewn, az lar the eye can penetrate,
with the trunks and branches of uprooted trees,
which, borne down by The annual fresheis, are
launched into the breaking surf at the bar, and
east back, in strange aud fantastic disorder, upon
the sand. Here they become the hibltauous OF
bugs and lizards, and The ''markst places" and
restaurants Of the agators. VINO crawl up isZly TO
bask in the heat OF the sun, aud 10 deyour myriads
OF their dlmmutlve prey. AT daybceak, these
monsters emerge from Toe water, and creep slowly
20 the trunk OF decaylng iiee, at which they COM
pose themselves Tor NAG, by shutting their eyes,
and opening their huge PAWS. As the sun rises,
the flies swarm into the inyitng thorax and Ievel
for while IN uDdistafbed security, until the ailI-
gator is satisfied that has ''trsp" Is full, when he
shuts the ponderous door, aud opens his eyes as
compostd as II nothing d ID happened.
On the mornirg II the I5h. thr other vessels got
under way, IN c"masay S,ib The Tag shp, aud
stood 10 the southwark and eastward, leaving
orders tor US 10 cro-s the bar aud remain IN the
river, with the double view ~ blockading and of
intercepting the transit oi cocoa from T"basco 20
the towns Of the interior. The following extract
from the log OF the Stromboh, on the morning IN
question, Is somewhat important, as furnishing
bret description of the bar, aud the to be
rtccred In crossing -
MAY 1sth.-a; Daylight ssrt the master into sound,
sna Saoy 80 70, PSI "; 'ns master
twelve feet four inches wlth hsrs -h,e sandy bottom
snd that the sours- O. be .teer-d sy nearly 5. W.
suddenly deepens and the shores become bold. With
helvipg beach fr soros oisa.ee within the entrance
At 10 80 A. NJ hove th- ana stood In
the bar, steering a. directed b. th- buoys A. lil5
anchored within the uuuth Of the river. iu Nv. aud
LAf fsthoms water the l""k "u tower AZ tne i,rt osf
log, per compass W BY y. "a distance aoouta quar-
ter a q mile "
The departure Of the commodore aud the safe
anchorage OF our vessels within the Tlyer, left US
little to do aud lees TO expect. few days follow
ing our arrival, barge with an armed crew was
stationed some ht, en- mllss W, near point called
Peso Nu,ya, TO " catch cocoa while party
were detailed from the vessel, to blow mp and de-
stroy the guns IN the old fort, which we found en-
Tirey desefied. would here remark that toe view
If the surrounding country from the wstch-tower
the best On account ut the superior elevation OF
It's site and the absence OF interv, ning foliage Far
and near broad meadow lands, alive with droyes ol
horses and hsfds al sleek aud nimble cattle. are
spread out az living maps before the eye while
the hue wales between are pregnant with the fIch-
est odors, and musical with the songs of thou
Sand bids Locking ~ ward. the made ~ rollers
on the bar seem To be lur ever sporting with the
grm old sharks aud the shrieking guil-, Who dash
down into the oi foam, aud snsich the timld
panic stricken tish from the very jaws OF tue "msn,
sters of the deep" Perhaps no nver in tae world
cen boast of greater abundance of h-h, or such =
strange and multiplied variety, a. the aforesaid
.Guazacoalcos; but the quality with the excep-
tion 81 sptcIes OF mullet, seaIed hy the ludidns)
IL Indifferent, and many Of then poisonous and un-
wholesome. The lakes aud bayous, however,
abound IN turtle, the flavor OF winch u delicious
in the extreme.
Until the attack on To6asco, 10 the month Of
Iure, and the temporary withdrawal OF our vessel
from the river for tnat purpose. nothing ot impor-
tancc occurred 10 break our skns, or the mOnotony
of the blockade" save The vllanous musqultoes,
snd an occasional hunt iJr hares, or bullock, IN
the Wales beyond the fort.
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