The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-06-24
CHE Gropeller.
For The Cecil Wing
SKETCHES OF TEXAS;
NO.. \.

80. n.
Mexico is country Justly famed for her
superior art in saddlery, and Texas is not
Jess distinguished for the various styles of sad
die met with in that country. In the city of
Austin, the central point of that great south
western State, you will find Il greater variety
"fsmld,S ,lian can be seen in any Other part
of the United States. From the magnificent
Spanish, saddle, taStcfully embossed and. orna-
mcntcl with brass or silver plate, down to
the ludicrous whim. wham, forkcd, wooden
machine used as a saddle by the Camanches.
The saddle most used in Texas is hut little
more than tic bare. wooden tree; to which is
attached pair of Slrrups and sweat-lcatlcrs.
A blanket. or two blankets, as the case may
be, are placed bctwixt this skeleton saddle
and the horse back, and the rider straps an
extra blanket on the top, or mounts astridc
the naked board whichever he fanci,s. These
naked wooden saddles are the most comfort
able to ride on, of any have ever tried: al
tho this may seem incredible to many who
have never had an opportunity of testing the
fact. The broad, stuffed pads we use for sad
uncomfortable things to ride On. that were
EVER used for that p,.! Jose. tisn not the soft
ness, but the shape of the saddle that insurcs
comfort. The genuine Spanish saddle is much
narrower seated than our American saddles,
allowing the rider to sit i'll an easy and natu-
raj position. These spanish saddles" with
quilted seats, and skirts, which are becoming
so common among us, are but poor limitations
Of the ''s,,non pure" article, found in Texas,
and Mexico, altho' a great improvement on
the old style Of American saddle. ] have
ridden hundreds of mics on the naked, wood
Ell saddle, Tor rather saddle-trcc) of Texas,
and found it far preferable to the softcst,
stufftd American saddle.
a Texan traveller, such as often met on
the lonely prairies, in some of the old States,
would attract quite as large crowd of spec
tators, and create as great sensation as ''thc
elephant" You will meet him astride of a
mustang or pony, on a wooden saddle, with
blue blanket for pad, and if the day is
fine another blanket strapped on top, but if
the day proves cold or wet, then it is hung
round the shoulders, by protruding the head
through hole, which is invariably cut IN the
centre for that purpose. A broad beaver hat
slouchtd over his face, a pair of iron spurs
bangles at his heels. With enough Of mcttle in
them to make common horse shoe, and
coil Of topc, or lariat, hangs at his saddle
bow. 1t is wonderful with what skill and
precision these fellows can throw the Iariat !;
going at full speed they can throw the moose
over an animals head, neck, or either of its
legs they choose, very rarely missing their
aim.
The Colorado bottom is celebrated, as that
Of Brazos, and in fact all other Texan rivers,
for its fertility Of soil, but is quite narrow in
comparison with the extensive alluvial of the
latter stream. 1t is settled and cultivated in
extensive and beautiful farms, from the Gulf
for some distance above Austin, which is
two hundred miles from the coast. After
leaving the Colorado bottom tic upland has
the reputation of being very poor. A large
extent ofcountry in this region is prairie, but
there is also much Of it covered with pine and
blackjack, miserably barren and gravely
soil.
Leaving the city Of Austin in four-horse
hack. Kind Of opposition line to the regular
mail stage, in company with two other tray
.uers, bound for Houston, VIC arrived in Bas-