New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-07
CHIHUAHUA.
From the Missouri TO the ella.

CuuUAnUA, Thursday, Nov 25, 1852
Ileft Independence, Mo, the 18th OF August,
with train OF Messrs H. Mayer d Co, bound
20 this place, where we reached yesterday with
out having met with any misfortune on the road.
If am not mistaken in suppOsin9 that some
remarks towhich the observations made on TINS
trip and during my further stay here may gave
occasion, will not appear to your readers devoid
of interest. ! may hope you will deem tow
letters which will take pleasure m addressing
to you, worthy 10 I'll some columns OF yOlf
paper know very well that since the Mexi-
can war even the remOtest part OF the country
through which this journey has led me, has be-
come much better known than it was before,
and that it has lost by this circumstance not
only a part of that interest which we generally
find i'm the distant and unknown but also good
deal of that romantic color which q natural
disposition of our mind uses TO cast over IL.
The reports of talented and accomplished OIL
GERS of the u. s. Army and of scientific travel
ers, who we're placed IN more favorable sltua-
ton than the mere private member OF the tram
of n trader. are in the hands of the public OF
the United States. More light yet Will soon be
spread, expect, over these interesting regions,
by the reports of the Boundary Commission.
Different observers, however, not only see things
often in A different light, but are very 0iCen
allow the one to see what is not equally laid
bare 10 the view of the other. Thus my unpre-
tending observations, without claiming TO COM
pete with those Of higher merit, MAJ never
thelcss have O certain degree OF interest.
Let me first make some remarks relating 10
the geography and geology OF the country be-
tween the Missouri River and northern Mexico.
In second letter | shall then communicate
some interesting facts in relation TO the moral
state of tho inhabitants Of the same region, OF
the Mexican population, and of the Indian
hordes and clans who infest its territory destroy
ING or driving away the last remains OF those
immense herds of horses, mules and cattle
which formed once so essential part OF the
riches of opulcnt Mexico, and carrying away
women and children which they now oiier for
sale or for prostitution TO the traveller IRON the
east who meets them on the plains.
Along a part of the eastern limits oil New
Mexico, our train followed road little known
10 the traders. and even not marked on the
official map of that territory, newly published
at Santa Re. From Los Vegas, the first Mex
lean town on the SantaFt road, we took more
eastern route than any laid down on the map,
running between two ridges Of sandstone noun
tans and falling in with another eastern track
a little better known and marked on the map
lust mentioned at Anton Chico. From that
little town. situated on the Rio Pecos, ana sur
rounded by rich cornfclds, We again left 20 the
west all the tracks usually travelled by traders,
and all the habtaticns of New-MeNieo. We
passed even east oil Manzanas, and ultimately
trayersed the mountains whlchorm the eastern
side Of the valley of the Rio Grande In broad
and deep gap, which begins at the ruins Of Gu
ARA, where the traveller, seeing before his eyes
the half broken walls of large and massive
urh
of Byzantine architecture, and the runs oil
some other large stone buildings, might fancy
himself suddenly transported from the midst OF
the American wilderness 70 some romantic spot
of old Europe. High timbered mountains in
the rear, and fine tail pine trees in the fore
ground, casting their shade over a little stream
OF clear water,-a sight SO rare between the
States and Chihaahua-giye an uncommoncharm
10 this place, which, Ike the neigab0rlng Avo,
WAS once a mission of the Spanish among the
Indians of the most eastern part ofMeXtco and
must have been destroyed by them inthat revo-
mrioa of the Indians which drove the Span
iaris forget az what exact time, from santa
Fe, and made them build FL Paso, from where
they aiterward reconquered the upper country.
This new road leaves aside the rocks aud the
deep sand Of all the more western tracks runs
over very high smooth and level plsins, though 1t
is not without some rocky ascents ana descen's'
and ultimately reaches the Rio Graade few
miles above La Toya, Those who know all the
different roads through this part of the country,
prefer this 10 those more To the west, and re-
commend it 10 the traders, though we found
water rather scarce in some parts, and grass
very indifferent at some places The Oj0 del
Nerendo or Antelope spring, however Is said
never 10 be without water, which is of crystal
clearness and forms little lake only few steps
from the spring. OF wood, red cedar and pine,
there is plenty on the greater part of the road.
The descent into the valley of the Rio Grande
is rather rough and steep and occasions a very
sudden change of scenery.
The geology of ths, part of the American
continent which extends from the Missouri
River 10 Northeastern Mexico, is comparative
iy simple, but even from that simplicity uncou.
naonly Instructive and interesting was in a
great error when expected 20 recognize a dis.
tinct limit between the plains Of the Mississippi
basin and the Mexican table lands. Net only
the general level of the continent rises entirely
in gradual manner, but even those Isolated
groups and ridges of mountains, which are scat
tered over Mexico, begin, on = smaH scale, as
far east as the middle course of the Arkansas,
showing geological phenomena which find their
full explanation only when the traveller reaches
the borders of the Rio GranGe. Here be sees
the sandstone sndlimestone strata OF the plains,
very oiten in the same nearly horizontal posi-
tioa lifted up TO an elevation OF seven eish'' OF