Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-12-03
The New Route to California.


sst in opening the mail line the Isthmus of Te
huantepec. The subjoined extracts will be read with
interest:
SUcHIL, MEXICO October %, 1858.
On the goth sailed up from the mouth OF the river
to the town of Minatitan, distance twentytour miles,
where we arrived next day. We Immediately left the
ship and went into camp just outside of the village We
remained at Minatitlan two days After transferring
our coaches harness. &C. from the vessel to the small
steamer we found ample time to look around the town.
The place, like all small towns in Mexico is principally
made up of lodges or huts of very inferior ORDER
doors or windows The only articles of furniture vis
bic to the naked eye rough mahogany benches and
sea-grass hammOcks, few knives, forks plates, &c.
We all glad enough to gather up our traps and
leave Mnatitlan on the evening of the 23d for Suchl
nnetyone miles up the river, which place we reached
on Sunday, the oath, all in good health and spirits.
The Coatzacoalcos river is decidedly of the most
beautiful l ever saw immense mahogany and other val
liable trees line the Shores the rich ground covered with
wild orange, lemon, and palm trees, just now In full
bloom presenting quite variety of beautiful coors.-
The sensitive plant grows in great profusion and is so
very sensitive that the leaves will close before person
gets within foot Of it. We saw any quantity Of ALI
gators lying around shore many of them received the
contents OF rifles. We some few monkeys,
which do not modest, however. Parrots and other
beautiful plumaged birds are very numerous. Game OF
all kinds be had by taking the trouble to load and
fire guns
Immediately after our arrival here we went to work
CdhIuS COdCuCS OUT vi Lle DOAtS
together-no small operation, you. So far
nysefs concerned Inever in better health in my fe
and like the country fully well [ expected
think | can safely say the same concerning the entire
party. Our coaches all ready to so soon as
motive power be attached to them. The mules are
all at Chevala," the halfway station six of them
will be here to-day, which to take with a coach to
Venosa Bay, for the purpose of bringing the first Pa
cic mail across the Isthmus. So you shall have
the honor m any there be of taking the first coach and
mai A nd civ will +bo
open their eyes some, am inclined to Think from the
fact that they have never seen anything of the kind
more extensive than mule cart with wheels sawed from
the end of mahogany log The body of said carts
OIL about the same capacity rs our common Wheelbar
rows.
From here to VentOsa Bay it is one hundred and sew
miles, the first twenty-five miles is very bad the bal
about the kind of road it is from Cleve
land to fathers house. 1t passes through several little
Spanish towns of them Of any Importance eX
cept Tehuantepec city; quite large and beautiful place.
am tOd located on the plains about eleven miles from
the Pacific coast, perhaps half as large Cevand.-
The inhabitants of the higher class. Quite
number OF wealthy old Spanish DOnS reside there with
their families shall be able to give you more general
information III regard to the route in my next, hope.
The rainy season is pretty much over here now, and
the ground where the sun get at it, is getting quite
dry The first three days after arrival at the mouth
OF the river we had rain nearly every five minutes One
moment the sky would look as clear as ever saw it.
when perhaps the next would bring a heavy shower
During the rainy seasOn-rOm June to October-a per-
cannot venture outside of the house without an UNI
brea, or some protection from the rain, for five or
ten minutes. great country when it rains.
Mosquitoes grow very large here, and when they are
not prevented by bars attack person at night worse
than famlshed wolves they retire. however, at daylight
leaving the field open for the rhOdedOrs, (which means
vagabond in Engish,) a very small fly, always on the
wing, in drOves, by the tens Of millions. They attack
part Of human flesh except the hands, ears and
The bite of leaves small black spot which becomes
very if irrated by scratching the irritation is
driven away by rubbing the spot with the skin of the
orange or lemon. The rho-dedores disappear at
down then look out for musquitOs Insects of all kinds
shapes and cOOrs are very around here but
where the country is open they very Some
of these insects very poisonous. OF course we are
very cautious about tucking up mosquito bars at
night.
My mules have just arrived They are calling me
now to get ready to go, so good bye.
The Smack In School.
The following incident district school is told by Will
liam Pitt Palmer of New York. President of the Manhattan
erary Society in stockbTdge Massachusetts, his native
home:
A district school, not far away,
Mid Berkshire hills, winters day
Was hummlng with its wOnted noise
OfthreescOre mingled girls and boys,
Some few upon their task intent,
But more on furtve mischief bent;
The while the masters downward look
Was fastened on copy book
When suddenly behind his back,
Rose sharp and clear ringing SMACK!
As twere battery of bliss
Let of in one tremendous kiss!
9 What's that % the startled master cries;
" That thir,' little imp replies,
Wath William Wlith if you pIeathe-
thaw him kith Thuthanna Peathe ~
With frOwn to make statue thrill
The master Numbered, " Hither, Wil!'
Like wretch oertaken in his track
With stolen chatels his back,
Will hung his head in fear and shame
And to the awful presence came
great, green, bashful simpletOn,
The butt of all gOOd-natured fun
With smile suppressed. and birch appraised,
The threatener taltered " I'm amazed,
That you, my biggest pupil, should
Be guilty of an act rude
Before the whole set school to boot
What evil genius put you to 20
Twas she, herself, sir, sobbed the lad,
/ didn't mean to be so bad
But when Susannah shook her curls,
And whispered was fraid of girls,
And dursnt kiss a baby's doll,
couldn't stand it, sir, at all
But up and kissed her the spot!
IkneW-boo, boO-I ought to not,
But, somehow from her OOks-boo, boo
thought she kind O. wished me to ~
Mr.. S. T. Sawyer founder and former editor of the
Argus, and late collector of the customs in orfok Va
has published the Prospectus of new paper to be call
cd the Leader, which will support Senator Douglas
for the Presidency.
Rz3A parsOn reading the funeral service at grave,
forgot the ofthe deceased and asked of the mourn
CTS an Fmpra1pr . iC tbic or n cictor