The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-02-27

OF THE I. 5. ARMY.
The city of Antonio de Bexar, which
was founded more than two centuries past,
occupies fertile plain on the west shore
Of the Antonio river, and now, even ITS
curtaiIed condition, reaches fully mile
along that beautiful stream, while IN width
itexieuds perhaps to more than half that
distance. 1t seems to have been regularly
laid off in streets, crossing each other at
rioht angles, with an oblong space in the
centre. about midway of which stands The
cathedral and other public buildings, dlvI-
ding it into two equal divisions OF some
eight acres each, the eastern being denom-
mated the civil, and the western the mill
,arv SQUARE. Around the whole extent Of
these squares are erected a continuous
wall of stone houses, which from the eX-
,srior, with their rough walls, their fiat
roofs, and their portfolios, resemble moth
ing but an impregnable for;lhcatlOn, while
on the interior, with their piastcred fronts,
large windows, and spacious corridors,
ihev present at once an appearance OF
comfort uniformity, and security. The
other buildings are miserable huts, built
of crooked muskeet-lOgs stuck eudwI5e
INTO the ground, the creylces filled with
rlay, without windows, with dirt floors.
and generally thatched with prairie grass
or bull-rushes. The surface of the ground
being level the streets, which are without
pavement, appear to have been prepared
nv the hand Of nature for the especial pur
poses TO which they had been appropriated
ha brrr
bank Of the San Antonio, where consJd-
srable portion Of the population reside,
Weld % the curviiuFes Of lhe river from
the Alamo to the full extent OF the city.
The river San Antonio, which is formed
ny some halEdozen springs that burst up
within a small compass. is perhaps one OF
the coolest and purest little rivers on the
American continent.
Besides affording an abundance Of wa
,or to supply the numerous drvergIng ditch
es for irrigation, it sweeps on with bold
current, and with its fowCrv banks and
ITS meandering channel winding gracefully
through the city, may be considered as us
most valuable and interesting ornament.
From early evening till the hour of mid
night the inhabitants flock to It IN crowds,
for the purpose Of bathing, and then the
forms of hundreds of young and beautiful
nymphs may be seen iOyfully gamboing
amongst its limpid waves. Ii Is by no
means an unusual sight TO behold the
forms of three or four young brunettes
come dashing down the current, with their
dark hair floating over their shoulders; and
gliding like dolphins on the sea. Ihc
writer describes an incident which came
within his notice during his visit to this
beautiful river. He says-''As l stood
gazing on the various forms before me, /
beheld one younger and more delicate,
rolling, curvelting, and sporting among the
waves, whose tapering limbs and well
formed figure shone amidst the sparkling
waters like alabaster when exposed to the
sunlight. She was the only female OF
light complexion | saw in San Antonio,
and as she passed her faxen ringlets fell
wantonly about her white neck and half
developed bosom. She seemed arIess
and sinless as a child of the coral caves OF
the deep, deep ocean-but when her tull
blue eye turned up and its glance met, IN
wild surprise, with ours, blush of mod
est consciousness passed over her cheek,
when she darted to the bottom to rise no
more till distance had deprived us OF the
powers of discrimination"
The population OF San Antonio IS dlvi-
Jed into three classes. The third Is the
connecting link between the savages and
the Mexicans, and are termed RGnCher0s,
Tor herdsmen) rude, uncultivated, fear
less race of men, who spend great part
of their lives OH the saddle, herding their
cattle and horses, and in hunting deer and
buffalo, or pursuing mustangs. with which
this country so fully abounds. Unused
to comfort, and regardless alike of ease
and danger, they have hardy, brigand,
sun-burnt appearance, especially when
seen with broad, slouched hat; red or
striped shirt, deer-skin trowsers, and Indi-
an mOccasins.
The second are a link between the Mex
'can and the S9aniard, or CastilIan, and
are somewhat more civilized, more super
shuous, owing TO the influence ot the
priest, and yet possessed of less bravery,
less generosity, and far less energy than
'he former. They reside in the city, with
out scanty visible means of support, and
without the least effort 10 procure the
comforts of life; still they vegetatc, and
appear 10 be perfectly independent and