New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-15

frontier post Of Cora Rics, under the command Of
Don Pedro Torrss, Who was standing, surrounded by
few ragged foldiers, On the embankment a. We
mooTed boat 10 the naked roots OF the tree The
fret thing which at rao;ed my attention, when dis
covered tie worthy Don Pedro as be stood looking
down at US, IN his loose calico trowsers ana vest was
bis very extraordinary pair OF spectaces They were
of dark glass with the exception OF the center where
small circular cclOrlefs glass slightly concaye is in
serted in black rim, the Whole giving his face most
taces Don Pedro IS quiet, good natured looking
gentleman, to whom am happy to return thanks FOR
his many kLcIcEses during tie days passed st
this place aw aitiHg cur uules.
We had been told AZ Greytown that the house
Of the conmsnisnt was upon hight; We therefore
fOndly lined hat We should End house and that
the house of 4 cOmmandant must surely be comfort
able one. M de G.. agreed 10 stay with the luggage
and went forward 10 receive II. The house, however
proved she'd wholly constructed Of cane, three
inches apart 1t had lott second story, which
the cCnmaIdants sleeping room, (the nooring OF
which was also made OF eaRe,) with notched young
tree for stairs reminding of the engrsyings had
seen when child, Of the Esqnimsux huts
When Mr.. &c c. came up, studied his coun.enanoe.
The happy smile of self generalization which il had
WON On quitting our boat, faded at the sighs OF the
LouEe and gave room 10 an expression OF quiet de-
spair What nv face revealed cannot tell, but our
expressons as we both looked at the place and then
at each other must have been highly amusing-ior
tunately 10 one there to laugh at us We passed
a weary time at the 'muele, Notwithstanding the
attentions Of the worthy Don Pedro, and very tool
sh mistake OF Of the soldiers was the only event
with the exception Of the usketoes. which are per
iaps worse there than the ryer that occurred 10
break in Oh the monoony OF the place. Ii happened
that having 10 salt left asked OF this man whether
LIE had any, and On bis Affirmative reply, requested
lin 10 give US some. Ny friend was cook that day
Without examining what the salt given him was, he
kar ~ int hat Dubbllrg
and sending forth Odor most grateful to our hungry
aIpetites. When tie dinner was ready We sat down
to it with much relish, and ate heartily. We had
hardly fnshod meal when my eye caught the eye
of my companion. felt decldedl! UNCOMFORTABLE ana
be contested to the The truth was, as We found
cut On inquiry, that The villain of soldier in lieu OF
giving US salt had given large dose of ipecacuanha
YOU may fancy the result On the afternoon before
our departure for tie interior were seated on the
trunk of eating some boiled rice Tor our dinner
when we heard a great firing on the river and much
shouting, upon which all the soldiers ran down the
ombankment and Don Pedro informed u that travel
ers were coming up the river after which he hurried
to receive them. In short time gentleman made
bis appearance and walked under the shed where we
were As / examined the conner | was much
amused with the expression Of thorough disgust de-
picted in every feature. He followed by another
person hose trowscrs rolled up above the knee
his feet bare and his eye sparkling with fun. We adj
yised tie latter 10 take care and not go thus bare
footed if he wished to avoid the fever. lie thanked
us for the advise and put his shoes and stockings
This led 10 conversation and made acquaint-
suce The frat gentleman Mr.. o. de D, and the
other DIR. T.; they had been less time on the rlver
than We but they had suffered far more from the
small size of their boat which obliged them to remain
the whole day in the same position, seated on the top
of their luggage with no other shelter from the rain
and the sun than an umbrella, their time fully occu-
pied by bailing out with tin cup the water which
was constantly filing the boat They slept at night
under the trees of the forest No wonder that poor
Mr. de s. had such disguised look.
Al an earl, hour on the 10th of December started
to eros the Cordilera The path which the mules
work their way winds through the dense
forest at time sinking into deep valley at oner
times rising abruptly along the rugged mountain side,
with steep accylty on the hand and giddy preci
pice ON the other The forest is everywhere ana even
the road you tread is rendered unusually dangerous by
the ,tumps Of the eled trees which protrude through
the deep mud the feet OF the mules frequently getting
imprisoned among the tangled roots that cover the
ground causing them to kich violently to the great
discon future OF the rider. The mules follow each
other carefully stepping into the footprints OF the one
that precedes, progressing very slowly I'D dicuit ana
slppery places but often hurying on frantlcally as
caprice may influence them, or nsaney attempting TO
force the mselyes under some half fallen tree where IL
is out Of the question that the rider should pass with
out being knocked TO pieces or compressed ntoa Jey'
Cne Of the most beautiful views witnessed was eros
forest was less imperyious to the eye than usual 10
the right ard left there deep hollow, with, at
short distance the encircling hights from whence,
through the thick foliage sparkling stream issued
from cavern high mp in the mountain to disappear
into the hollow beneath. We lad several narrow es-
cspes and one more especially where owed my safety
wholly to the sagacity OF my mule.
Generally Mr. Dc c. and trotted on in advance OF
the baggage mules with whom the muleteers remained
to help up a mule that might fall or rehx the dlsar-
" III l.,a fhsa nAN ION N
question when we came upon part OF the road
which led down the mountain, and perceiVDg large
tree that had fallen across it halted and looked
round US We saw that the path on which we were
continued TO the left at right angle with the pain where
the tree law Instead Of giving the reins TO the mules
(who well knew which was the proper path we
turned their heads 10 the left and followed the one on
which we were. We had not proceeded two hundred
wards when we again came TO dead stop by hndlng
that here also but several trees intercepted
the way at place where the path turned at rlght
angle down the mountain. Ny friend, being ahead Of
me- could avail himself of portion OF the bend to
turn bis mule but not so fortunate, and there
sat perfectly perplexed at my unsafe position The
path where my mule stood not more than TWO ieet
wide if so much it bat sufficient for my beast 10
stand upon. To my right was preclpice, TO my lett
the abrupt swell of the mountain. How to turn knew
NOT and still turn l must. However there being No
means of avoiding it, | settled myself firmly on my
saddle and throwing my body back to displace as
much as could of my weight from the fore legs of the
mule drew in the right rein and attempted to force
her round head to the precpce AT first she refused
to move but finding resoute she suddenly rose on
her hind legs and aided by the strain the reins,
swung aerself round upon the path, thus saving herself
and rider from the imminent danger Of rolling down
tie precipice But with this the peril was not ended
Under the mistaken impression that could not pass
where We had seen the first tree lie we resolved to
slide down the mountain side To where We saw the
path continue, some thirty feet below US. passed
FIRST and was fortunate enough TO bring up my mule
on the narrow path Not so my friend and companion;