Demoine courier., 1856-11-13
WESTERN TEXAS AND THE cAnELs.

tdiDs al eQttotIdi It0epuHoeHIo IEbi0
Castrovi lille, Medina county, Texas. dat.
ed 10Th ult., from which we take the
following interesting particulars in rela
ton to tina, country, and the camels
which have lately been imported there
by the United States government:
"A drive Of ten miles brought US to
,hs far-famed Bandera pass, mentioned
in my last letter, through which the In
dians have been in the habit of travelling,
10 and fro, for years, on their predatory
incursions. The scenery here is mag
Efficient, the mountains on each side pre-
sen,ing the appearance of a long range of
Notifications, being precipitously steep.
and covered with rock, seeming as though
nature had designed them for breast
works, from which to repel the attack Of
an enemy: The pass winds through a
narrow gorge. the mountains on 18th
sides rearing their lofty SUBMITS towards
the clouds, and presenting a scene of
grandeur mos. imposing and sublime;
their rugged cliffs sad steep pr.ciP;ces
showing the chasm between them 10
have been the work of an earthquake,
or some other gres. CONFUSION of ID
.ure, The road winds through the pass
for abocl a nile, and then enters another
lovely valley, extending Cor about three
miles TO the ba uks o. The Verde. at the
foo, o. another range OF mountains,
where a new military poet has lately
beet established by Col. A. >. Johnson,
who regards it as one Of the iaost I'M
portant on the frontier, commanding a
range Of country for miles. through
which the Indians have been constantly
passing and rspa ssing on their way TO
the settlements.
A full company of the I'd Cavalry are
now stationed there, under The command
of CsP'. Palmer. to whom, and his ami
able laG,y, as well as the other officers OF
his company. we are under many oSii-
cations for acts o. Kindness and ho-pi'
,a!i,y during our short stay. Though
tie post was only established IN July
The men are already fixed liz comfortable
qua ,ers, and, but tlr the uniform of I'm
Gle Sam, a stranger riding up would
think he was entering a smsl! town in
which all the citizens were mechanics
busiIy employed building thsir own
houses. The amount OF work done IN
SO short time il almos, incredible, espe-
cially as = certain number of men are
constantly out scouting. Before win er
sets in all will be comfortably housed
and protected from the inclemency oil
the weather. | had also the pleasure OF
making the Acquaintance OF Maj. Wayne
for several years attached to Tho War
Department. in Washington City, who
went on. last year 10 Asia. and INTRO.
duced The camels into this country.
which arrived a, Indianala lass spring.
and are now left at this post. 1t has
been selected by aim - the best adapted
10 that service for which he intended
them. When We arrived they were out
grazing some two miles distant. attended
by the Arabs who have charge OF them,
when Major Wayne very kindly sent
out and had them driven in for our in.
spsc,ion. There are altogether shiry-
two, including some young ones. and all
are in excellent health, and Seem to be
doing we'll.
The males are KEEP, separate from the
females 10 the coryell, and when all were
housed and when all were housed and
we had examined .6a1p- carefully, ac-
companled by Major Wayne, who gave
Us a very Interesting account of the hab-
its and peculiariries, he ordered one of
them 10 be led gu. and loaded as if tor a
journey. After kneeling I" receive The
pack. saddle, a most cumbrous load Of
itself, but such a. are used in the coun-
try from which they came. a load Of corn
was placed on the animals back. sufi
Glen. for Two mules to draw in a wagon,
with which be rose and started of al .
good round pace. A dromedary was
next led out. which 10 the saddle animal
Of the camel, an. after kneeling 10 re-
ceiye tie saddle he was mounted by an
Arab, who started off oyer the prairie al
a pace which seemed to me not much
short OF a two-for'y lick. This pace
they can keep up for hours in succes-
sion, travelling with periec, ease from 80
10 100 miles per day. They can also
subsis. for several days without water.
and their a~dap,ability to the frontier SER
49, e.. -L.~k it,, tonsa nod - unvu