The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-20
No. lS6.

something like the benches of country school
room, and about three rude wooden chairs. A
email looking glass a foot square, and few gaudy
prints, formed the furniture of this room.
The family were all seated on the floor. We
took chaira, though one Of the officers who accom-
panied preferred sitting on the floor. After
chatting awhile, one of the ladies who was smoking
liz fresh cigar and handed me, which etiquette
required me to take. Some of the gentlemen who
were smoking handed theirs 10 the ladies, who
took few whifs and returned them. 1t is pretty
general custom for all 10 smoke. After i'm
mense number of compliments and bows
tired. At another house found the family seated
on buffalo skins around the fire, the half clad
children nestng themselves in the warm folds of
the skin. In this apartment there was no furniture
but three chairs. At one house table was set for
u5, which was placed some brandy, sugar and
water and plate of new cheese--a very queer
tertainment. told one OF the gentlemen who
companied me, and knew the families, that would
do whatever etiquette required, III the way of eat
ing and drinking, partaking of other hospitali
tics. At another house, the padres Cor priests)
little cups of delicious chocolate were handed US
with cigars. On the whole, the people of Fl Paso
the Inost primitive ever saw, which is not
markahe, when you consider their isolated posi-
ton The nearest city of consequence 10 them is
Chihuahua, $40 miles off; San Antonio, 700 miles;
and there no Inducements to bring people here
So the manners and customs of the people
much as they were two hundred or two hundred
and fifty years ago, when the town was first set
tied.
The dress ofthe people is the same, whether rich
or poor. The bettet class that have clad
in black or dark dresses, geuteely made. The head
i invariably covered with the reboso, n mantle
thrown oyer the head and drawn around the neck
one end falling the shoulders behind the other
in front All wear these without exception. Bon
nets unknown. The rebosos made of cot
ton for the poorer classes-ior the rich they are
made Of silk, woJen, linen, and sometimes
naInentcd with gold You imagine the inn
portahce end value of this garment, which answers
Tor a head. dress, a shawl, and mantle. The men
dress as do, that is, the respectable class the
poorer class quite iancifui dress, which can
better be understood by drawing than by de-
scriptOn
The town Of FL Paso contains about five thousand
inhabitants, but ;he whole valley for ten fifteen
miles below might with proprfety be included in IT.,
which would give population of twice that num-
Der. Most Of the houses surrounded with gar
dens and vineyards-the gardens capable OF
producing any thing, but lazy the cutiva
tore that little is raised beyond the most common
vegetables The apples are small and poor, but !
see reason WY they may not be improved by
grating The pears are pretty good. Peaches and
grapes | have only seen dried The latter like
much as have them half dried. Wine Is
made oi these grapes, and though much is said of
it, it 10 poor stuff, resembling poor Malaga wine.
have no doubt, however, that with proper attention
good wine ini2 2ht be made
| hardiy know what vegetables are raised in the
valley. All that hnd for sale are onions, all OF
1 enormous size, say six eight inches across,
pumpkins, beets and carrots; potatoes. am told
will not come to maturity. ! have brought with
me all kinds of garden seeds, and will see what can
be done
As there Is no rain for several months in summer,
the land has to be irrigated There is dam above
the town, from which the water is led by small
aqueducts, or acequas, they are called, all over
the valley on both sides OF the river. BY Ne aid ot
this the soil is extremely fertile.