The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-03-24

per, then wrapping up in blanket fell
down under the covering Of a tree and
slept more soundly than Crpsus in his
bed Of down.
Ibis village was almost deserted. a
gang of sailors had made a drunken foray
upon 1t; during the siege, and gutted it of
every thing valuable. AS I passed fire
where there was a crowd of sailors, saw
them burning wooden image of Deily
which they had taken from Mcxican's
house. | have seen these images often in
the houses Of the Aztecs. They are coarse
ugly things, made of wood, after the I'M
aye OF man, and are wcrshipped by this
stupid race. 1t is a great mist Ike to sup.
pose that the Azrecs have been christian.
lzed, They still worship "stock and
stones" dogs, cats,and monkeys. l have
seen all this myself.
We resumed the march early, next
morning. had the misfortune to lose
my canteen, while using it as a well buck.
ct, and the prospect Diminishing tha, day
was very promising. We crossed the
flSer on bridge OF boats prepared by
the navy, and some got over. vas on
the advance guard, and We marched on
very rapidly. We soon began to faint
and scatter. a tropical sun was pouring
| It's sweltcting rays upon us and we had
little water 10 asSuagc our thiist, and that
was brackrsh. Tongues began to hang
out, and affairs to gov desperate. All
along the Ueact We're fragments Of the
wrecks pf about fifty Of our ANAL vessels
"h'ch had been wrecked 10y the north.
ers. Barrels and hogsheads were strew-
ed along the beach but they contained
nothing but salt water, which only nfu.
mated tie thirst. saw one desperate
fellow drink "A bali gallon Of salt water
| attempted to reason him out Of such
madness, but might as well have rea-
soncd with hyena. He would drink If
1t Killed hIu," WAS his reply.
About noon, we reached the rancho yf
Anton Lizardo Here we halted some
time and supplied ourselves with water
from two wells. There were several pc
ons (MeXican servauis) at the rancho. |
remenher laughable inc;den, "a, this
place An II.ltera;e soldier wanted some
'hing OF the poems, and he MADE desper.
ate efforts to make them comprehend his
wishes but in vain. He did rot haJio
Espa"Ot, and they did not eaiien1e In.
gt'ce There s'oud the babel barrier Of
tongues between them. In vain did he
specify, and in vain did they pour forth
Their ready glbness. 1t was decidedly
no go. But he saw n solution of the diff
Guilty he saw small hov, of four or five
Years old. OF course all children speak
English, thought our green horn, and he
would make an Interpreter Of the urchip.
lie tried l., but the frightened urchin res.
ponded IN Il voubIe roll ofSpanish, which
aslonlshed our greenhorn as much rs if
he had seen ghost. 1t WAS rich scene
to witness the blank as,onishmeut EXPRESS.
ed Ia his face, and hearing child speak
such diahOical languaguc. Dean Swif,
says that, IN Paris, even the little children
speak French. have only TO state the
equally wonderful fact, that, in Mexico,
even the little children speak Spanish.
AT Anton Lizardo, We left the beach.
and went through the country. After
DARK we camped on cattle pond. Our
marches had to be regulated SO as TO camp
"h'r' there WAS water, which AS at wide
intervals in this part OF Mexico This day
we had marched twenty miles TO get to
muddy cattle pond. Bad as it was, it WAS
the best we could find. If we did turn IN
our noses at II, the horses did rot. We
made coffee OF it, and soon stretched out
cur tired bodies on the prairie grass, and
went to the land of sleep.
Next morning we were 10 with tho
dawn, and off, having first filed our can
teens with this muddy and filthy water.
| had 10 wade out hundred wards into
the pond TO get where it WAS deep enough
to hi my canlecH. Several hundred
horses were plunging about IN it, and
thousand long unwashed feet were lend
ing their odor to it. Rah ! Ugh Per.
tume my handkerchief Fan me, to keco
me from fainting Bat necessity con
qners tastidiousnesE. ! drank the water
and often sighed even at the remem.
6rance OF having such water to satisfy nv
thirst.
About noon Of this, the i!i,,i lay Of our
march, and which was the first dav of
APrU, we were suddenly halted Verify
1t was "AII fools Day." for the GeIu
SIve mirage, temPeing us with its fresh
waters, and its fine cattle and hor.
ses.Ied on many poor soldier over
miles Of vain pursuits. These horses and
cattle had real existence. but the water
WAS only ii ouI eye Reader, did you
ever see and follow mirage ! II YOU
have, need not describe it and if you
have not thank God for it, and ask no
questions. We we're all fooled. |
knew something about Napoeon's cam
paIgn in Egypt, and soon took the
hint.