The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-17

Mexican boundary Commission.
Correspondence Of the Providence Journal.
QulscAxs. STATE or DuaAsoo, Mexico
| November 20, 1852.
l. thought of writing to you from the towns OF
GuAJuquiila or Cosiquirachie, but fearful you
| would not be able TO make out the names, and
therefore deferred it until we reached more pro
| 4 wrote you last from Chihuahua few days after
our arrival here. We were detained there week
| in making repairs on the wagons, shoeing animals
and purchasing others to replace those stolen from
| us ~ the Indians in their attack. Mr.. Bartlett
! also hired six men guard in addition to ten
soldiers furnished by the military commandant OF
the State; SO that we left chihuahua pretty strong
| on the let of November When but three or four
days out, we entered the village of Sauclo within
an hour after 1t bad been entered by the Canaan
ches, who drove off many cattle and horses, and
Killed one man, whom the people were just bring.
ing in. LlI .sIiIc lig-4.'I 4 q LII
These Indians bad at the same time attacked a
train few miles ahead Of us, and taken from il
fifteen mules, when it returned to Salcillo just as
we entered This, you may suppose, caused some
| alarm among us, the Indians were known to be
al around But it would not do to stop where we
then were; and therefore the next morning we
continued our journey, keeping q sharp look out
IN every direction, and never passing ravine or
ciueter OF bushes without sending men out to ex-
anime them, and see that no savages were lying
in wait. But we saw none; and kept on to Santa
Rosalia, where VIZ heard that the band alluded to
mad crossed our path the preceding night, and
pIobably in ambush somewhere on the main road
This induced the commissioned to change the route
and go couple of days out of the way to the town
OF ua]uquilla, where the country was more OPEN
and without any defles or bushes where a foe
might conceal himself. Wetherefore logged along
very well, and saw enemy. %
At GuaJuqulila we we're detained a couple of
ne hon Cr,r frov,o hn-k
continuous and without any delay. The place
from which | write is about one hundred
miles north of the city OF Durango, and about the
same distance west of arras. Here we turn to
the east and go TO ParEas, thence to Satillo Mon
terey, and Camargo, on the Rio Grande.s We
were obliged to Keep round this way by advice of
the officers in Chihuahua, to avoid the Botson of
Mapirni, extensive region where the whole
Camanche tribe dwell during the winter and
whichltlis unsafe to cross except with large and
strong party. E l2 v
We make from fifteen to thirty five miles day,
the average being about twenty miles, including
stops, which is considered good travelling. Two
empty trains, which left chihuahua the day before
us,we found to be but one day in advance of US
mere, while our wagons are heavily loaded The
weather has seen delightful since we left Ell Paeo
on the 9th October-not drop of rain has fallen
The days are generally warm, though notoppres
slve-the nights are 80 cold that inyariably sleep
under blanke. Stow e - sy gsgs- 10 s.r,5ss-'r
A,
November %, 1851
We arrived at this place last evening all in. good
health, though somewhat tired with our long Jour =
ney, Tor we have not stopped day to rest since
leaving Chihuahua, distance of more than FIVE
hundred miles. But in this distance we have had
many delays to repair injuries to our wa CONS
For the last one hundred miles the road passed
over hills and tains, through defiles and
gorges, and we have broken several wagons, SO
That 1t will be necessary to stop here least three
days to repair them. We then leave for Saitillo,
Monterey and Camargo, and hope to reach the
latter place in eighteen or twenty days.
we have passed over what ia considered the most
dangerous portion of the route, and as many par
ties had lately been attacked and the whole coun-
try infested by these robbers and murderers, we
were compelled to employ a guard of fourteen
armed men, In addition to those we had before
We then presented 80 strong force that we came
through without opposition Al the we'll where eve, we
encamped the night before reaching here, the
Camanches had been but two days BEFORE and the
day before had attacked and cut up pack Of
mules and donkeys. We passed several fresh
graves by the roadside within ten miles Of Parras
From here west are the valleys through which the
Indians pass in their incursons into Mexico, and
scarcely day passes when more or less are not
geen. ga 1@2i@ ~ t5.-.8 l325 ..Sl .1t't.-- u LE
To give you an idee Of the murders thew com
NIT, 1t was stated to me by gentleman here that
from twenty to thirty persons were killed every
month IN district extending from sixty to eighty
miles west, and the number of mules, horses, and
more remarkable is, that efforts are made to
check pursue the Indians. There are no soldiers
in this part of the country, and there is not spirit
and courage enough among the people to send out
parties themselves in pursuit. They sit down
quietly and suffer themselves to be robbed and
their people murdered. = -.- ,-..--.. ts-.. n
Many entertain the idea that the United States
10 bound to pay them for all their losses, as we
have agreed to keep the Indians out of Mexico
we have taken pains to tell them such is not she
case; that we will aid them and do all in our power
to protect them, but if they will not lift an arm
themselves they must continue to suffer as they
have Parras contains 5000 or 5000 inhabitants;
Sallio from 10 900 to IL ,000 and there are MANY
places OF 1000 5000; yet all these together can
not raise one hundred armed men to protect their
lives and property The resott is. that the country
IS last becoming depopulated. Every town we
have visited is on the decline, and many fine estates
have been entirely abandoned. Even Chihuahua,
the largest city in Northern Mexico, has dwin.
died down half. and many places which once
than 500 - 9--.s 5,.o- i!S9. ~ ---s5 a. a.,-
There is very little of interest to the traveller
between FL Paso and this place. More than three
quarters OF the country is no better than desert
and not mt tor cultivation. Along the water
courses are rich valleys Mich are very productive,
bat ewing to the scantiness of rain the lands must
be irrigated to produce any thing. Heuce the at.
tention OF the people has been more devoted to rails
they have been robbed of their stock by the Indians
they have lost their all. A more Impoverished
country and people do not exist; and the poorest
and. most miserable population we have amongst
of Of an 9 ayr ees ENJOY e. the comforts
feel thankful when ! get out of the country, and
never desire TO visit this portion of again. Ishal
love my own country better than ever. Americans
VIII not appreciate the many blessings enjoyed by
them until they Visit the miserable, poverty.strick
en-, and barren regions We have traversed.
MosTERRr, STATE OF New LEON, mexico, Il
~ December IL, 1882
We have got 80 far toward the Rio Grande |
which is now but six or seven days journey dis
tant; but we feel that the most disa greeable
parts over From Parras. where wrote 10 you |
last our journey has been among settlements, and
hence more agreeable than before But the In
dams have been around US even here, and at Sa.
tilo, large town of ~ 900 or Il, 900 inhabitants
they approached within three miles of the town,