The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-02
Our TabascO Correspondence.
TABAsCo, April Is, 1850

Our TabascO Correspondence.
TABAsco, April Is, 1850.
The Rivers and Waters of 7abasco, &c.
The following is a translation of small extract
from the work Of which the above is the title
made for the editor Of the New York Herald, for
him 10 make such use of as he may see fit the
translator is constantly deriving large quantities
of valuable and reliable information from such
Herolas as he can get from the masters of American
vessels which arrive in this port, and feels that he
is only performing small duty in offering his mte
TO be accepted or rejected, may best please its
intelligent and capable editor.
The principal rivers of Tobasco are the Usuma-
cinte and the GrJalva both take their rise in the
mountains of Central America, and after crossing
part of the State of Chiapas, pass into this State
CTabasco), and empty into the Gulf of Mexico.
The river Usumacnto, it is believed, takes its
rise in the mountains of Vera Paz, in Central Amer
lea, crossing the eastern boundary of Chiapas,
which separates II from the Republic of Central
America, and it afterwards forms the boundary be-
tween the northeast Of Tabasco and the south
west of Yucatan, and serves as great and useful
channel of communication 10 those parts of the
republic, and emptying itself into the Gulf by four
mouths, viz: that OF Tabasco, San Pedro, Laguna,
and Porto Real; II receives various tributaries,
but it is only valuable for purposes of navigation,
until after entering the State. 1t has beautiful
falls above its navigable point Along its banks
are situated the small villages of Jounta, Monte
sque, also various large estates (haciendas), all
situated in the department OF Usumacints, which is
named after this river it deriving its greatest i'm
poftance from that river passing through II, parti
culaIly in the logwood business. On the banks of
this river and tributaries are large establishments
| for cutting that article. IL is wider than the
| Grllava, its current not strong, the water
deeper, but the region through which il passes il
! very sparsely populated.
The Griialva takes its name from Captain Juan
de GTiialva " ho discovered il for the Spaniards in
kpgu nan "A shnrf diafa
above the city Of Tabasco (San Juan Bautista),
where il takes the name of Mescalapa. Under this
new name II passes through part Of the territory
OF the State of Vera Cruz, and enters into the state
of Chiapas, where II again changes Its name, taking
that of Chiapa because of its passing the city
OF that name. IL nses in the Cuchumatanes
chain of mountains in Central America. From
ITS source 10 the village OF Layula that is the
portion Of II within the State of Chiapas Il is only
nayigable for short time in each year, on
account OF its rapid current, las being very
crooked, and full of rocks end rapids. IL passes
entirely under chain Of mountains rear Chiaps,
re-appcarng on the opposite side, after being en-
tirely lost for n time under the mountain. IL re-
ceNes many small streams as tributaries, which
descend from the mountains bordering its banks,
which streams keep u supplied with water the whole
year round From Zayula TO near this capital (Ta-
basco), that IL, from the point where IL takes the
name Of Mescalapa, it is nayigabc for small yes
sels; but for large vessels its navigation is only
Of importance from the point where IL takes the
name Grijalva. From there, it has a gentle
current, wide and deep bed. Passing by this
capital, and alter course Of twenty-eight
leagues, little east Of north, il enters the Gulf
of Mexico. In the year $40, the Texan war
steamer Zavala, together with two sail vessels Of
war, assembled this river to this capal at the same
time, and in their company, were one brig and two
schooners armed as war vessels. aud belonging to
lucatan. In 1913 the war steamers Of the republic
came up TO this city, and this year OSs) this city
was attacked 10y an armed naval force belonging TO
the United States, and without any Of the vessels
meeting any obstacle navigating the river. Ii re-
cciyes on its right bank and about one league from
tins CITY, the nyer lsiacomitan which rises in the
| mountains Of Chiapas, and passes near Chapulte-
mango, lstacomitan and Pechucalco: IL is navigabe
| for bOngos, as far as the two last named places
| About mile above this city, IL receives the united
| waters Of the rivers Teapa and Tacotalpo
| 10th ofwhich rise in the mountains Of ChapGs.-
The first passes by Taputa, lsguatan, lstapanga-
Joya and Tespa, and a, two leagues from this lat
| ter village, at place called "The 1Iermiia," il
| commences being navigable for bongos and large
canoes During its course, u receives the Puyaca-
| tengo. The second. or Tscotapa, or Sierra, re-
ceiyes stream called the Cacaos, and unites with
the Teapa at a point called " The lslsnd;" after
which, and after running distance Of i've leagues
| IL Joins the Grijalva as above stated
| The Puscatan IL also a tributary Of the Grijava;
the Puscatan also rises in the mountains Of
receiving in It's course the Iulua. After this latter
has formed The beautiful falls Of " San Pedro" and
passed by Macuspana and Tepetitan. IL empties into
the Grjalva by the tive mouths called Chilapa
and Chilapills the latter thirteen and the former
nine leagues HOfn tnt NllidRt OF On tne
left hand, (descending) the Mescsapa throws of a
considerable branch arm about ten leagues above
this capital at place called the Patano, and forms
the river Gonzalez, which is navigsble for bongos
and large canoes for nearly the whole Of the year,
through ts entire length, which IL about thirty
leagues TO the points where II empties into the
Gulf of Mexico. These two points are called Chill
tepeque bar, and the bar Of Dos Bocas 1.-TWO
mouths) After receiving the waters Of the Puscs-
tan river, the Grijalva connects itself with the
Usumacno by arms Of this latter river at the points
known a. The IDOLS" Clos Idolos) five leagues
from Frontera and Three Arms" (Tres Brasos,)
three leagues from the same place. These two
large rivers thus united. form a wide river which
receives the waters Of the Tabasquillo, small
stream rising in the lakes and swamps lying be-
tween the Gnjalva and Gonzalez rivers, and passes
by the village of Fronters, where II becomes much
wider Ga full mile at leasD and enters the Gall at
the main or principal bar Ct Tabasco, about one
and half leagues from the last mentioned village.
The waters of these rivers distnguishable at the
distance Of ten or twelve leagues at sea- at all
sons and during the times Of high freshets ia the
river at a much greater distance.
lnnumerable other streams cross through this
State in every direction, besides which there are
many deep lakes in every part Of the State, which
contain water the whole year, and which are va
luable adjuncts TO its internal navigation and COM
meTce.
Domestic Miscellany.
The Charleston Is. C) Cotton Manufacturing Com
psny about 10 erect another factory with l5,OOO
spindles Pour hundred thousand dollars have been
subscribed for the purpose.