The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-21
Our Texas Correspondence.

Sceneryin 7eras-Interesting Travelling Companions
the Prdirtes-Rild Animals Birds and Insects-Ia-
ternal Improvements, de-, DC, dc.
Although my letter has somewhat OF military head.
ing, la "Camp before sebastopol" yet my intentions
here are entirely Of pacific nature do not intend to
propose four any other number Of points to Moses
for settlement neither do intend investing bis bayou
seeing that it would not be very profitable operation,
the sad bayou composed Of two inches OF water
four feet of mud and two feet of ayators with five
solitary willows skirtDg the margin, and breaking tho
dull monotony Of the prairie but seeing Of the
phases of Texan life called camping OUT, and until
this sort OF life gone into the comforts Of hume
never be realized.
lmaaine vas4 A~r.-s. prairie, unbroken except BY
those ave suned willows, dusty and ho-oh how hot
sselter from the rays Of the except the tent
which hardly be called shelter; bed but the
ground and water to drink but abomnaticn mixed
with clay and lme and which has t. be diluted with
whskey before is fit to drink. There redeeming
point however, amid all these discomors and that is
that have fine breeze from the Gulf every afternoon
and the nights sufficiently cool to render blanket
necessary The climate of this portion Of Texas is
probably the most variable in the world The heat will
be excessive, not breath of air stirring, and you will
be longing for Of the cool breezes Of the NORTH
WHEN " nerther" will spring up without moments
Warning and presto greatcoats are in demand. or
course, in such climate woollen garments Abso-
lutely Indispensable and 1t is well to go any dis
lance without BLANKET.
One of the srors Of my life here is the immense herds
Of wild cattle roaming the prairie They scat
tered about in gangs Of from to two hundred and
their paths ntersect the prairie in every possible dree
ten. It il very rare that they win attack . man on
horseback they have become accustomed to the sight
Of persons travelling that manner but 1t dangerous
for person to travel among them ON foot as they viii
probably trample him to death few days since three
Of left camp to walk few miles do the prairie,
and before We got TO our destination encountered
gspg of cattle They stopped feeding drew and
We Walking very slowly, any attempt to hasten
our speed would have been met with certain DEATH but
Il s 70 halt entirely in order that tRs
did 60, and after gazing at MS for a few minutes,
they wheeled round and walked off We reached
but old not imagine thai We should h.ar anything
when perceived that the cattle had crossed track
rome mile and half below, had scented trail, and
q; s sssd r.s ey
the running to and fro enung at orr scent paving
and tearing up the ground. At one time they drew
ven fer safety, but we happily escaped them, And
arrived At camp in safety.
The cattle however, mot the sole occupants Of the
prairie by any means. Droves Of wild horses not
inirequent, and deer are In countless numbers. The
small brown wolf cdyeute Is. quite common aud you
But Texas is the paradise Of reptiles and creep things
Rattle ard moccssn snakes too numerous even to
by 1rinipg raw whskey till it produces complete intoxi
eaten but for the latter there Is The taran
tua is pleasant institution to get into quarrel with
he lie SPIDER with body about the size OF hens
egg end legs five six inches long, and covered with
opg black hair He lies In the catts tracks and
him move out Of his path as his bite absolutely
certain death, and he gets out Of any onss gay,
but jump eight OF ten feet to nhct his deadly bite
Then there 10 the cenpede furnished with rlmit 4
of leOae ch leg n
claw fctipg separate wound II he walks over you
at ni,ht you win have cause to remember him Tor many
months 10 come, the wound 10 OF particularly pot
sonous nature and is very difficult to heal The sting
ing lizard IL lesser evil, the sensation of its wound
rer.sn but ONE Is too thankful to escape with life to
consider these lesser evils any great ammo, But
the insects Flying, creeping, JUMPING running, dis
Ask for cup Of water and tine rejonder in camp in
varaby is-"win you have IL with bug or witho at ~
and Is perfectly harmless. Il has none Of the cold
timy qualities OF his northern brother, but Is frequently
made pet Of Chameeons are innumerass, dart,na
changing their color to correspond with the color Of thu
Of Ss sssn 'ss . o
BIRDS singing most beautifully, and feathered game
b sno ong That
quail, partridge, inipc, mallard, plover, and prairie
There does not appear TO be any political question
i sny moment vhsteysr here asamb has his follower
here OF course but what they have met with
i have not been able to learn.
The main question Of interest the railroad lues
tom whether the roads should be built by the State
by private enterprise. The State Is sadly deficient ID
railroads. there being but one and that only some TWEEN
y Eve or thirty miles long, but learn that the Calves
tor Eouton and Henderson road are about pushing ths
forward under the superintendent OF James Con
verse; Esq chief engineer and expect to between
| Galveston and Houston by January next. Such con
muncaticn greatly needed the passage is made
by steamboat, and occupies ten hours whereas
uld be easily by cars in hour. The Of thu
long passage OF the steamboat Ia owing to the very cir
| cuitous route Of Buffalo bayou, on which Houston Il
situated and which is Of the most singular stream
IL the world. There Is sufficient water to float seventy
four gun ship with ease, and yet 1t Is tina
you pick flowers from either bank you stand
| tie Geek OF the steamboat.
| The Hon. Mss Murray passed through here few day
nce and appeared 10 be very much impressed with tn
singularty OF the bayou. When return from camp 4
civilized life shall be better able to gather OF tn
questions poica ard Otherwise, which are being agta
fed r this state and shall sndeayor 10 chronicle the Dc
bates thereon fIthfrly. .. II e.