The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-01-07
SPORTING SCENES IN TEXAS.

BRowxsv1LIE. Texas, Oct. 25. 1859
Mr.. EDIToR:--l will add ia my present
lette few additional characteristics Of the
region Of country on each side Of The Rio
Grand, or Rio del Norte, near its mouth. II
is obvious to the most casual inspection that
this Vagrant river, compared with which the
Mississippi runs in 4 bee-line, has in former
times traTersed, in all directions, vast extent
OF territory in this quarter. 1t has entered
the Cult Of Mexico ct various points along
the coast, from the north to the sonth, each
side Of its present mouth, for q distance OF
nearly three hundred miles between tho ex-
tremes. The old channels Of the river, called
"resacas, are found on all sides for two or
three hundred miles from the Calf ID tlIe m
terror showing that 1t has shifted tts cilahnel,
in ancient times, oftcner than any stream
known.
These resacas can be traced for hundreds Of
miles, and are now generally dry, unless in
very wet weather. They are uniform in ap-
pearance, being about three hundred yards
wide, and thirty feet deep. When the river
is high, it spreads for miles over the country,
on both sides, fills up these dry channels,
converts them into lakes, which are frequently
not exhausted during whole year. Some Of
these beds, where the bottom is composed of
hard blue clay, remain nearly full Of water
the whole time, thereby supplying a most es-
sental want of this country.
The water Of the Rio Grand is exceedingly
muddy, even more so than that Of the Missis-
sippi-but when cleansed and purified it
serves we'll for domestic uses. In consequence
Of the great length OF the river, and the pc
euliar formation of the surrounding country,
| it rises at times with surprising rapidity. /
have seen it swell up thirty feet in few hours.
After one of these great floods, the resacas,
and other low grounds, continue fullO water
for considerable period; vegetation springs
forth with uneEamplcd luxuriance, and no
thing but the perio llcal oveflOws ofthe Nile
can equal the abundance it produces, the thrift
ty growth it imparts to grazing animals OF all
kinds, both wild and domestic.
Throughout this vast region the beautiful
prairies are interspersed ithpatches Of chap
parel, Of unequal extent and irregular shapes,
which often give to the scene a curious and
picturesque appearance. This chapparel con-
sists Of thickets and naked thorns, of several
species, so thick, tangled, and impenetrable,
as to laugh the best cultivated hedgegroWors
to sc)rn. The bushes are leafless, the arms
and thOrns are as white as If painted, and
they glitter in the sun. Attachedt to the stems,
and scattered beneath, to the depth OF several
inches, are myriads Of shining snail shells,
which render the ground almost as white as if
it were shrOuded with snow Interspersed
among these chapparels are varions trees of
other kinds, such as the musquito- ebony, Wild
briar, cabbage and numerous others,
valuable for fire wood, fencing and other me-
Chanical and domestic purposes. When these
| thiCkets are cleared away, The gqOund is ex-
Ceedingly fertile and easily tilled--cOtton
sugar, corn, &C., all flourish there with the
highest degree Of perfection.
In these chapparels arc found countless
numbers Of rabbits, of the Ordinary gray spe-
cies, as well as a large gray rabbit, much re-
SeThbling the English hare in shape but far
larger, with enormous ears; the true Zoologi-
cal name do not know, but they are vulgaTly
called the jackass rabbit. Thief are fine eat
ing, and / have shot them weighing fifty
pounds. Vast flocks Of wild turkeys, some Of
them very large, aud all Of thenfat, inhabit
these forbidden haunts-quails, pigeons, pisa
nos, &c, and it must be added, no small guam
tity of rattlesnakes and tarantulas find here a
safe and inviting abode. In all parts of this
region, deer, in fine condition, abOnnd; also
the peccary, or Mexican hog, one Of the most
game blooded animals that exists. They will
fight anything, man or beast, aud some anu
sing stori es are told of their driving hunters
up tree, and there besieging them for hours.
We have also peculiar bird, deuominated the
chachalacha, about half the size Of an ordi-
nary game cock, which is we'll worth descri-
bing. 1t is shaped much like Wild pigeon,
of an ash color, black legs, black shining beak,
strong and sharp, and with eyes Of great brill
liancy. In its native state it is wild and shy,
bat when caught, is easily domestiCated, and
becomes especially fond Of those who feed
and camp it. At daylight in the morning,
whether wild or tame, they commence furi-
ons reVeille, repeating in loud, dismal tone,
a chaRnt, from the sound Of which they de-
H., z. =. s..
half an hour-the woods all around you appear
to be alive with these invisible songsters,
when suddenly they stop and not another
sound breaks from them during the whole day. |
The chachalacha will cross breed with the !
common game fowl, and produce not only a |
beautiful bird, but one of tho greatest value |
for its game qualities. Their crosses are a /
little under size, bnt in spirit, endurance, ac-
tiVity, and vigOr, they are unmatched. They |
are the best fighting cocks on earth. This is |
no fancy sketch; they have been tried fire.
1uently, and never were known to skulk or
yieldi like the Old Guard, they can "die, but
never surrender.7
They are difficult to catch, and have gene
rally to be reared from the egg--I have known,
even there, twenty dollars to be paid for pair.
so highly are they esteemed. / have often
been surprised that breeders 1f game fowls
have not turned their attey tiSh to these birds,
to renew and improve thyir stoet. Perhaps
they were not aware Of their highland valua-
Bile qualities. Let them try this a liant little
hero, and they will find full confirmation Of
all have urged in his behalf.
We have, likewise, another peculiar bird,
called the ''pisano," which is dEehed Of great
value by the Mexicans and Indian, on account
Of its hostility to the serpent tFibe 1t is lar
ger aud taller than the Ct fachalacAh, delicately
and beautifully formed black and white speck-
led in color, and can run as fast q fleet dog.
Whenever one of them discovers arattl tlesnake,
Or any other serpent, no matter kow large, 1t
commences fierce cry, whiehlsummens to
its aid oil the pisanos within herring. They
begin to run and fly about the sntke IN cir
Gle, crying and chatteFing Rll Ibe time till
their victim becomes eonfus4d, Hhen, guiek as
the lightning's flash, one Of theh, and imme-
diately others, make dash a. the eyes OF the
snake, and with their .shafp aud nneffIng
beaks, he is blinded in memnt de then
falls an easy prey to their ulfted proves.
These battles are Of frequent occurrence, and
are described by the spectators as interesting
in the extreme.
Along the rivers, lakes, p0nss, and water
innumerahle speclea u Water-towls
are seen. Millions OF Wild geese. brandt,
ducks Of all Sorts flamingofs @Ipe, &c. &c,
start up before you at ever stp. The large
black -brindled wolf. fieFes 4 sangninary {
animal, wildcats, Mexicab tlgfs, aud other
dangerous beasts OF prey. af oceasfonaffg
troublesome, but not to aiI rmIng extent.
The prairie wolf, or c0gote tnall impedent
animal, is found in myriads makes night
hideous" with his yells, Sal is no further
to be regarded, than as 4 ND arrant thIef,