New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-13
NemTurk Dailu @ibnaue
NEW PUBLICAI IONS.
A SADDLE TRIP In TEXAS.

Mr.. Ol,nsted hss already booome a distinguished
fayorite "a writer f travels, both in this county
and in England. He combines q1alpies which are
rauarsny Of excellence in th's department Of COM
position. Wholly devoid Of preteDsiOn-simole and
sraD,parept in bis style in his character and hsb-
ne OF though -sccustomed 10 exact observation
and careful ststem-nts-With an equally keen eye
or statistical foc's and personal ioc den's-never
es ng SIGHT Of picturesque or comic scene-aud
always preserving an exuS@rant good humer, in
spiie Of depressing and provoking cir:unstanes-
be is a siDgulsry agreeable traeeet and seldom
fails 10 win TIE sympathy Of his readers in the
sstive Of his adventures.
The journey, Of which fhis volume presents the
record, was performed abou. two ?ears since, the
satbsr being accompanied by s brother, who has
uraoged the original journals and notes in their
present form. After crossiog the country from
Baltimore TO New Orleans, the two travellers started
from Ns.chltoches, mounted on mule and pony,
following the old Spanish tran which led 10 the RIO
GraDde. They were equipped in fashion uh'ch
caused no small amusement 70 the goggle-eyed
spectators who had assembled 10 witness their de.
tined 70 be the sbip of tho desert for author,
while his companion had chartered q stout, dun.
cslOred short-legge6 mpir, Who though the son
Of a donkey, proved himself avery much of a gen.
seman.' Every portion Of the saddle was laden
with ''phnder' for the expedition. Beside the
2ethoric .addle.bags, he high Mexican pomnel
and cantel were hung with blankets, overcoats,
,ppp;tiop pnnchps end o%har ppa4fnl 20 v,njs
trusty gun swung loosely at the leg of the rider.
Once astride amid so mush lumber, bow TO dis
mount was problem, and a free t1Ot or a canter
was not 10 be though: Of but 10 dire extremity. II
was a crisp December morning. which found the
Jolly equestrlans isifiy under way, and five minutes
ride took them into she heart Of the pine forest.
The route lay though the pines, over sandy sur
lace as far as the boundary OF Texas A small
creek or pond occasionally divers fed the barren
evel-witbiD the reach Of their overflow, frner
and richer soil showed a few deciduous trees,
Oh ely oaks and cotton aood. The road could
hardly be called read. IL presented no uniform
path, aud eseh traveer chose his own track, in
order 20 avoid ths tant or mud. Several times
day was seen one OF the slow eDgrant trains, whc,
jrag their weary way 70 t1e westward over this
.boroughfare from Alabama, GeoHgia or the Csre,i-
sss. Before you come upon ,hemyou hear, ringing
through the woOds, the fierce cries aud blows with
which they urge on thei' jaded cattle. Then the
spsgglers appear, lean dogs or fanting negroes,
ragged and spirit!ess. An old granny, hauling on,
BY the hand, weak bcy-too old 10 ride and too
young to Keep up. An old man, heavily loaded,
with rifle. Then tie white covers of the wagons,
jes king up and down as they mount over root or
plunge into rut, disappearing, one after another
whero the road descends. Then the active and
CHEEKY prime negroes, NOT yet exhausted, with .
Joke and suggestion about tobacco. Tnen the
black pick nnnles, staring, confused heap, out
st the back Of the wagon, more sud more of their
eyes te be made out among The table legs aud bed
ding as you get near; behind them, further in, the
Old people and yeuug mothers, whose turn it is 70
nde As you get by, the white mother and babies,
and he tail, frequently illhumOred master, on
horseback, or ralbmg with his quo, urg ng up The
black driver and his oxen. AZ scout ahead IL g
brother or An intelligent Save, with the bes. qua,
en- the look. ont for deer or turkey. .
One If these trains was made up Of three large
wagons loaded with farntare, babies and invallds,
two ar three hght wagons, and gang Of twenty
able field hands. They sravei ten or fifteen miles
day, stopping wherever night over'akes them. The
masters are pla,niy dressed, often IN home spun,
se, ping their eyes about iheo, noticiog tue soil,
sometimes making remark on the crops BY the
'eadsde; bus generally d'gged, sary and silent.
The women are sden; TOO, frequently walking to re-
ieve the teams, and weary, asggard, mud be-dfag-
sIed forOn and disoonsOiae, get hopeful and care
Id. The negroes, mud-incrussed, wrapped IN old
bisDkets or gunoy -bssr, suffering nom cod, plod
on, almless, hopeless, shoughsess, more indifferent
han the oxen 10 s!l alb u them."
Soon after bigot'at, oar travellers spprcsch the
n stery in the wilderness, 20 which 'heS hst been
recommended for shet-r. Il did not prove an As
.or House, nor Metropolitan, sl,aoug II fdrn SIZED
entertainment for maa aud be,st.
We were received cordially every house here ex.
pectrg 10 co duty bet were allowed TO strip and
kke of our own horses toe people by no means
sxl oc TO 90 landlords duty Dat tas'ng g9eets on
suff.rapce. The hpuse double ios cabia-tTo
e,tctions that ia joined by one long ri, leaving
an open space bt,ween gallery extending across
the whole front for pleasant sitting, room IN
Summer and for ;1iet room 10 all seasons. bright
Gre was very welcome. supper, c0nsl' uug OF pork,
btsh ard salt, cold bread sud boiled sweet po-
tatoes was served /" lyle lesnto behind the house
After GisposiJg OF this were soowa IN ouc room,
he other cabin whs-e we wh;!e5 away our evening,
s'udypg, by The light Of the great fire book Of bear
stones and converting with se young msn Of the tan
lily and 'htf6 guest Tce room opvn ~ the raft
ems AID had , en- bail; ap cI ly h'gb tho top Of
Me door upon he gallery side leav'ng q hIgs ooeo
rrGnxe ~ the root through which rhe wind rus1ed at
y with de,ce sSoop, both while we were string a.
tn fire ana sitter treated to ce1 Owing " ths
slept h,te and having had salt supper, lay very