The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-02-23

vessel looking back on that pleasant
spot, thinking if all Texas was as en-
chanting as our first introduction to it,
it would soon he densely populated.
While ruminating these things, our
vessel ran into shoal of Porpoises,
called by the sailors blowing Pigs
For nearly an hour We were passing
hundreds of these 6sh as they played
about, darting under the vessel from
side to side, and leaping half out of the
water. then disappearing from sight as
wave washed over them all at once
they turned their noses downwards and
vanished from our sight forever, into the
depths of the ocean. .... ...
Nothing of note except passing an
occasional vessel occurred, and about
noon the next day we steamed into the
port of Powder Horn, now called Indi-
anola. In short time the vessel was
secured to the wharf and the gang g-plank
thrown out all was confusion and hustle
and general rush and jam to get on
shore, and in the space of half an
hour the vessel was cleared Of her pass
engers some were distributing them
selves an ong the hotels and others to
their various places of destination. But
short distance from the wharf amongst
a grove Of beautiful trees, with their
long outrageous leaves, stood the pleas
ant verandahed establishment, only
recognized as hotel by the appearance
of a sign near by, on which was painted
in large letters CARTIER HOUSE.
Mr.. Cartier, the Proprietor Of the estab
lishment, at our approach came forward
with truly southern. frank and cordial
welcome, and invited us in. After re
freshing ourselves by washing off the
dirt and dust Of travel, we partook Of
an excellent dinner. Our dinner being
over, our landlord invited US to take a
stroll about the town. We found it a
place Of considerable importance, num-
bering about two thousand inhabitants,
mostly settlers from the United States.
1t is the government landing for all the
troops, stores and munitions of war for
the many forts scattered along the line of
Texas and Mexico and New Mexico, and
now occupied by the Southern division
Of the United States Army. The
buildings are mostly frame, similar to
those Of Galveston. Tropical fruits
and flowers everywhere meet the eye,
and trees with their long pinnated leaves
invite the sun -scorched travel to their
refreshing shade.
The next morning we proceeded by
land on our journey, until we arrived al
Port Lavacca, distance of fifteen miles
this place lies on bay of the same
name, putting in from the Gulf. This
is quite place Of business. and large
amount of forwarding is done here ; no
5 only does it command the business o
f nearly the whole of South western Tex
as, but also large portion of the good.
: for Northern Mexico are consigned t
> tho oero Of sonae forwarding house IL
. Port Lavacca, and at any time, here, car
. be seen the swarthy Aztecs from the in.
terror of Mexico loading their trains
: and preparing to return on their journey
Q of weeks, to renew the stock of some
: adventurous trading Spaniard.
IL
: to thirty carts, each cart drawn by three
r or four yoke of oxen. A Mexican car
D is huge affair, made entirely of wood
Even the tires are strip of some hare
9 wood sapling split in two and the half i.
8 bound around the spokes, which wher
, pressed down by 4 load become bent
! and the wheel presents an oval appear
ance or in other words about as rount
: as an egg, and causing much more labo
x for cattle to draw, but at very receu
Q date some enterprising Yankee, seeing
speculation ahead, has started factor,
g in some eastern state and sends YANKEE
e manufactured carts to this country 70
Q sale at the moderate sum of seventy -fv,
il dollars each, and ready customers ar
It found as soon rs the superiority and du
:, rability is contrasted between the two
# Their oxen are yoked together with
Q strait yoke or piece of wood, notched t,
# fit their horns to which they are lashed
It the oxen pushing the yoke with thei
Q forehesds instead of drawing with a bo,
: on their shoulders as in our country
A Mexican driver uses no whip, but in
If stead. short stick sharpened at til
l. end with which they goad them along
l. train is always attended by an oversee
y or superintendent who directs the Who'll
1t and attends to all the business of load
/, ing and unloading.
n morning, when after taking our breal
Il fast, we started. Our team consistin,
Of two horses. buggy. a Frenehman jus
ID imported. and your humble servant: a
st we started out we were saluted with
5. whistle from Locomotive which VIZ
IS rather surprising to us. and upon i,
l. quiry learned that a grant was obtaine
10 for railroad from that place to Sa
1, Antonio, and they had but few day
r, before received the Locomotive and la
re- laid two miles of the track aud we
ly working on it with energy. This is Il
" most Southern railroad in the Unite
re States and the first one above the gre
m lsthmus route.
a After few turns in the streets, v
l sudddnly emerged on the open prairi
c. L'lahao as it is called in Spanish, whic
he was low and level as far as the eye cou
ls reach. and covered with rich, heay
e. mantle of grass, upon which countle
mt numbers Of horses and cattle were gra
ry ing. AS We proceeded inland our day
ly travel was almost over an unbroken le,
d, country. Occasionally We pass
b. through small groves Of timber. co
m sisting of Live Oak, Musquite, Peca
er DC. Our road was lined with traveller
he some were emigrants: the most Of I
MS travelling in this country is on horseba
tar and when ninht oyartakas tham tn