The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-20
From The Proridence Journal
MeNiCnn RONntIarY Commission.

The suboincd letter is from member OF the
Mexican boundary commission. letter furnish
ing full particulars OF the Journey to FL Paso was
previously sent hy the way OF Santa Fe, which has
not yet been received. twill doubtless communi-
cate very interesting information, and shall
publish il as soon as IL reaches us
FL PAso, NEw MAxIco, Nov. 10, 1850.
FL Paso is on tile Mexican side of the river, and
extends some ten or li!teen miles along itd bank.
1t consists exclusively OF mud houses one story
high what il here called adobe. The earth Is
dug up anywhere, mixed with water into a soft
mud when little chopped straw is added to hold
it together 1t is then made into blocks like brick,
only much larger say about fifteen inches long
ten wide, and four to SIX thick. These are laid III
the sun and baked, or rather dried. They are then
piled up and pastered together with the same kind
OF mud Sometimes they plaster them all over ON
the outside with lime mortar and whitewash them
when they look very neat; but very few 80 flu
shed Nearly all retain the nature and color out
side, but whitewashcd inside. The floors are
all made of mud toleraby smooth There is not in
the place single wooden floor. In the better class
of houses, or, should gay, in the houses OF the
richer portion the floor is covered with old canvass
or very common kind of domestic carpetiug,
always the same color, that is, a dirty white with
black stripes
made several calls yesterday on the people OF
FL Paso, and will give you short account OF my
visits. They were on the principal people of the
town. The houses were some sixty or eighty feet
in length the street, with very small door, so
low that had to stoop to enter. There were not
more than two or, at the most, four small windows
saw three by four feet, in this long front. These
had no glass in them, but were protected by wood
en- Stats with a piece of white cotton over them
On entering you come tOan area, around which thC
whole building extends. A projection from tn,
main walls, of some ten fifteen feet, extends al
around, forming piazza or covered way, us pro
lection from the and rain. The cummunica
tiun from one part OF the house TO the other is al
w1ys thls way. Few rooms are connected by doors
Tins il very ancient mode of building, aud is still
continued in Spain and oriental countries. tn,
house, you viii perceive, Is perfect castle Tor there
are no openings ON the exterior save in 'front.' and
IN great many Instances, none there save th,
door, that the houses often rcscmble high Waii
rather tlIln dwellings,, When they were Introduce
they formed. and still form, good projection
against the Indians, as well "a ae linst nustct bal
the walls from two TO three feet in time kncss
more Frequently three feet. The roofs are Hat ant
covered with plaster, arranged that the water j
carried OF t6rnu;h sma!l cutters, three uur fee
apart leading into the street. This description an
svers for the best houses in I'll Paso, and the only
difference betWcCH them and those of the poorer
class s. that the latter have enclosures inside
| and consist OF only one or two rooms. The SANK
mud walls and loots ire the same ia all.
In the house OF a gentleman called the wcalhlcs
in the city who has Just sold piece ui ground on
this side OF thu river Tor 1000, and owns great
/ deal ot land about hero, vas asked into large
| rooui corresponding with our parlnrs or drawing
room, IL was mt least sixty Cr seventy icet long
| twenty live wide, and about eighteen high. One
halt she room presented the naked mud or carthcr
llu1r, its natural color the utBtr was covered will
/ Il common Mexican Nuulleu carpet, black ant
white. the natural color OF The "nol In quality
this waa inferior O. the poorest somespun carpet
ing and IS sold here at hity cents yard Ih'
furniture consisted of pine table, lts uatura
color, about fifteen feet long, with pine brnchc,
around; against Che wall were seats with backs