Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-12-30
gatetestinp StofgJ,
THE BEAUTIFUL DEg0Y.
From the Unpublished Chronicles of
a Traveller.

UHO OAiPuDA1ol0A OuIU111Cl0 u
a Traveller.
1t is well known to all in any degree
familiar with the history of Mexico. tina
a regular system of highway robbery ex.
lists IN eFery section of that miserably
governed country: and that through
wanto of interference Of the authorities, thi,
has grown up in such a regular and form
ldable shape, that every traveller must be
prepared to put his life at hazard at ev-
cry stage, or be provided with a suitable
contribution for los cdbeAeres del canine
the knights OF the road) who in the event
OF finding you prepared and willing, will
make their levy with a politeness only
equalled by the smiling landlord, when
he receives your overcharged fare for
your last nights entertainment. WHY
such a systematic boldness Of robbery is
allowed-if not with the connivance. at
least with rarely any Interference of the
government or State authorities-is one
OF those mystical matters which among
many others, SO puzzles and perplexes
the intelligent foreigner, but that such is
the disagreeable truth every traveller
trough that wretched country can bear
ample testimony.
Some years ago, having business which
irst called me to the capital Of Mexico,
aud thence through the interior of the
country to the northward, | met with sew
eral thrilling adventures, which | have
recorded for the benefit of whomsoever
may take any interest therein, emitting
the dates, they being nonessential to the
interest of the narrations themselves.
The first or the series occurred on the
ronte between Vera Cruz and the City of
Mexlco. In the regular dilgencia, run
ming between the places just mentioned,
| had taken passage and passed through
the beautiful city of Jalapa, without
meeting with any unusual accident, tho
being continually warned to be on my
guard against the dangers Of the road
at Perote where we halted for d relay
and Refreshments, all my fellow passen-
gers took leave of me, very solemnly as.
surlng me that, if assailed by the lad.
rones or robbers, it would be much bet
ter Tor me to take matters quietly, and
suffer myself to be genteelly plundered
han to run the risk of having my throat
cut Tor resistance, as | had somewhat
boldly proclaimed it was my intention of
doing. | thanked them for their advice,
and replied that | would take the matter
into serious consideration.
At Perote, | repeat. all who had been
my companions from Vera Cruz took
leave of lne-this being the end of their
journey in that direction, but there was
one new passenger here to go forward,
whom to my agreeable surprise, [ found
to be a beau iful young lady, some TWEEN
ty years of age.
Senorita Paula, as I subsequently, as
acertaiued her name to be, was indeed one
etgrare beauties, seldom met with except
in works Of fietion-tall, graceful, with a
profasion Of long black hair-soft clear
melting dark eyes-features as perfect
as ever came from the hands of the sculp
tor and with an animation the most fasci,
mating, varying in expression with over
chai ging mood of the intelligent possess.
or. A glance at her bewitching dark
eyes showed me that she was on natu-
rally Of social disposition, and as we rat,
tied away from the gloomy town, Istook
the liberty Of opening a conversation.
J. They tell me- said ], " that the route
between here and Mexico, is a very dan.
gerous one to travel"
There is little to fear" she replied,
with a sweet smile and a melodious tone.
" except from the professional robbers,
and they seldom harm any one who makes
40 resistance"
1t seems strange to me- I rejoined,
" that you Mexicans should take such
things as a matter Of course, and deem
resistance a very impolite way Of treating
the knights of the road, instead of boldly
ascertaining your rights, and abating the
evil by a manly spirit Of resistance. For
myself, | must consider it the most COW
ardly proceedings for my respectable
party to set out prepared to quietly graf
ify the cupidity Of the ladrones, and IN
prepared to treat them to their just de.
serts."
Every traveller, Senor,n she replied
should before setting out, count the cost
Of his journey, and as, Of course, it is nat.
ural he should value his life so highly, il
seems to me natural that he SHOULD pay q
certain sum for positive safety, rather
than to put his life in jeopardy. For in.
stance in travelling from Vera Cruz te
Mexico, if he will FIRST reckon that SC
much is the fare by the diligencia, and
that SO much will be required for enter
tainments on the way, and so much fol
the contingency you speak Of, he vii
then have the exact cost between thu
two points and il he will take the whole
as the sum total of his journey, he vii
not seem to be robbed BY any one part,
more than another
That" replied, may be the Mex
lean mode of doing business, but does no