Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-11-18
The Beautiful Decoy.


country and that through want of inter- |
ference of the authorities this has grown up |
into such regular and formidable shape THAT
every traveller must be prepared to put his
life at hazard at every stage, or he proFihed
with a suitable contribution for los cdbdtferos
del canine 1.-THE knights of the road,) who. IN
the event Of finding you prepared and will
ing. will make their levy with politeness
ONLY equaled by the smiling landlord when
he receives your overcharged fare for your
last nights entertainment. Why such sys-
teInatic bOldness of robbery is allowed--f
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
perpexes the intelligent foreigners, but that
such is the disagreeable truth every traveller
through that wretched country can bear am
pie testimony.
Some wears ago. having business which
first called me to the capital of Mexico and
thence through the interior of the country to
the northward | met with several thrilling
adventures which | have recorded for the
benefit of whomsoeyer may take an interest
therein emitting only the dates they being
non essential to the interest OF the variations
themselves.
The first of the series occurred on the route
between Vera Cruz and the city of Mexico.
In the regular diligencia running between the
places lust mentioned | bad taken passage.
and had passed through the beautiful city of
Jalapa and entered the gloomy town of Pc
rote, without meeting with any unusual incl
dent. though being continually warned to he
on my guard against the dangers OF the road
At Porote where We halted for relay and
refreshments. all my fellow passengers took
leave of me, very solemnly assuring me that,
if assaulted by the Ladrones, robbers, 1t
would be much better for me to take matters
quietly, and suffer myself to be genteeily
plnndered than to run the risk of having my
throat cut for resistance, L had somewhat
boldly proclaimed it was my intention OF do
ing. / thanked them for their advice. and
replied that would take the matter into seri-
Gus consideration.
At Perote, repeat, all who had been my
companions from Vera Cruz took leave of me.
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 beautiful young lady,
some twenty years of age.
Scnorita Paula, as | subsequently, ascer-
tanned her name to be. was, indeed, one OF
those rare beauties seldom met with except in
works of fction-tall. graceful, with pro
fusion of long black hair-soft. clear melting
dark eyes-f atures as perfect as ever came
from the hands Of the sculptor, and with an
animation the most fascinating, varying III
expression with every changing mood of the
intellectual possessor A glance at her be-
witching dark eyes showed m that she was
one who was naturally of social disposition;
and as we ratified away from the gloomy
town, took the liberty of opening CONVEX
satiOn.
"They tell me-" said l, ''that the route be-
tween here and Mexico is very dangerous
one to travel'
There is little TO fear" she replied, with
a sweet smile and in a melodiOus tone, Eek
cept from the professional robbers. and they
seldom harm any one who makes no resist
ance."
1T seems strange to me,' rejoined, that
you Mexicans should take such things as
matter OF course, and deem resistance very
impolite way of treating the knights of the
rood, instead of boldld asserting your rights,
and atating the evil by manly spirit of re-
sistance For myself, must consider ii the
most cowardly of proceedings for any respect
able party to set out prepared to quietly graf
ify the cupidity of the Ladrones. and unpre-
pared to treat them to their just deserts"
Every traveller, Senor," she replied
should before setting out, count the cost OF
his journey; and as of course, it is natural he
should value his life highly. it seems to me
natural that he should pay certain sum for
positive safety. rather than put that life IN
jeopardy. For instance, in travelling from
Vera Cruz to Mexico if he will first reckon
that so much is the fare by the dillgencla, and
that so much will be required for entertain
ment on the way and so much for the con-
tingency YOU speak Of he will then have the
exact cost between the two points; and If he
will look at the whole as the sum total of his
journey. he will not seem to be robbed by any
one party more than another"
That" replied. ''may be. believe is. the
Mexican mode of doing business. but does
not tally with the preconceived ideas of us
foreigners"
But every one,' replied the fair speaker,
| '.should conform to the customs of the coun-
| try he visits"
| "And do you then go prepared for this
| highway robbery? and have you no fear in
| thus iourneying by YOURSELF"
'Well, Senior, what can ! DO? | am, as
| YOU perceive an unprotected lady; who, for
! certain reasons, am required to make the
! Journey between Perotc and the capital some
| twice or thrice year and you certainly could
not expect me to go prepared To resist an
armed band As to fear, | will not deny
! have my share of that: but, so far have
| never met with any rough trratm INT. and of
coursr | trust to the saints that my fortune
/ will ever be propitiOus.'
And have you really been robbed on your
Journey back and forth?'' inquired.
Il think have paid my share to the Ia
| olrones for my transit through their country ~
she laughed.
And you expect to continue repetition
of the same for the rest of your life ?"
WHO knows?" she replied. AT least /
hope to be always prepared"
And your fellow Travellers said /; "have
you never seen any disposed to resist these
! unlawful actsy'
..Once. nor. an American and an Eng
| lishman. who were in the same diligcncla
with me- fired upon tie robbers, killing one
| and wounding two"
"And did the robbers fire back ~
Yes, but fed Immediately, and fortunately
| injured none of our party
AS | should have expected returned l.
.'You were not robbed on that occasion,
SUPPOSED"
1--WE were not. Senior; hut the two foreign
ers subsequently paid dearly for their resis-
lance: for in journeying back and forth, both
were killed. separate aud at different times.
near the same spot. You see these crosses by
the side of the road, SeEorg'
Il have observed them frequently, but here
they seem to be much more numerous re-
piled. looking forth from the vehicle.
| Each stands on the spot where some one
| has met violent DEATH" she r,joined; land
as we go along will call your attention to
those which mark the places where the for
| eigners met theirs.
DO YOU know said |, that | am resolved
| 10 emulate their example, let the consequent
ces he what they may
Holy saints defend us!' she exclaimed;
| 'you are not in earnest, Senory"
seriously so. assure you"
"You would only bring certain death upon
| us BOTH
..Say rather, should tighten the expenses
of the journey-ior your knights Of the road
! understand retreat rs well advance-and
| you yourself have acknowledged that firm
! resistance put them TO flight for once"
But there were numbers opposed to them,
| Senior, and you are only one"
But, fortunately. | have couple of re-
volvers, which, in two good hands, amount
Ia some ten or a dozen shots. aud my friends
have repeatedly told me l am not bad
! marksman."
"Ahl Santa Maria! YOU will think better
Of this, Senor-the very idea of resistance