The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-03-09


which is recorded and by which he
marks his stock if he buys of another,
he places his brand below all former
ones, thus the beast carries his own
transfer of ownership, his chain of title
from one owner to another until his
death. The law of the State is such
that all stock must be branded, and any
one finding an animal six months old
without brand. may appropriate the
same as his own individual property by
applying his brand.
Goliad is situated OIL an elevated piece
of ground, gradually descending to the
river, its buildings are mostly wood, and
surrounded by shrubbery and vines !;
there is one College and one Seminary
here under the superintendence (i be-
lieve) of the Presbyterians. We walk
ed down to visit them the Seminary is
fine stone building and presents an i'm.
posing appearance, it seems to be in a
hourishing condition and contains about
one hundred scholars, from all parts of
the State. The College is also built of
stone and the upper story is temporarily
fitted for school; We only effected an
entrance into the lower apartment by
driving out about hundred goats, of
which great numbers are raised here
When, however, this building is COM
pleted, it will be an ornament to the
town. We remained in Goiad and sur
rounding country, about three days, and
during our stay we noticed lack of
enterprise among the citizens, which in
fact pervades all Southern towns. The
face of the country around Goisd for
beauty surpasses anything l have ever
seen in Iowa, but owing to the long
summer drouths, it is but small por-
ton (the bottom lands) which can be
cultivated by irrigation. Irrigation is
generally done by several farmers living
along the stream, banding together and
digging ditch or canal from the river
above them, and running this canal down
through each farm and finally out into
the river again. Each farmer then takes
his turn and stops the canal at the lower
end of his farm, and the water soon sub
merges his premises. When sufficient
ly irrigated, the canal is freed of OBJ
struction, the water passes off and the
next takes his turn.
Before leaving Goliad we went down
to the stock markets (stock cavvas) as
they are called. The principal stock in
the market at the time were horses,
mostly from Mexico. We noticed there
were several buyers from the states, Sc
Letting and buying horses to take back.
AS they would select one from the herd,
a Mexican would start on horseback
with his lasso and soon capture the ami
-, - - --..---ss &c
satisfactory he was taken, if not he was
let loose, and would return whinneying
back to the herd. 1t is remarkable with
what dexterity and correctness the Mexi-
cans will throw the lasso-they will
catch an animal round the neck or eth
er foot at their pleasure, even at gal
lop, and the first throw is generally at
tended with success. AS we returned
from Goliad to San Antonio, we took
another road. Nothing of notice occur
red. Occasionally the road would be
lined on both sides with dense growth
of chapperal higher than our heads. then
as we left that and came upon open
prairie, We would be surrounded with
herds of horses and cattle as far as the
eye could reach, until they looked like
mere specks in the distance e
About ten miles below San Antonio,
we crossed the river and came up by the
San Jose Mission. This is the largest
of five missions planted in olden times,
within the space of few miles along
this river; they are truly wonderful
structures of antiquity, reminding the
spectator as he surveys the gigantic
proportions of the building. with its
immense iron cross imbedded in it's
wall. of the efforts of the Spanish Church
to Christianize and subdue this poor,
ignorant race, and almost the only result
OF their labor is now plainly to be seen
in the fiery blood and swarthy complex
ion Of mongrel race We found con-
gregated in rooms attached to and built
with this Mission, about fifty families,
all Mexicans. Stopping to look at the
building, we were invited in by one of
their number who led the way into the
interior. We stepped into the main or
service room, as we supposed from the
appearance of an altar built at one end
there were no seats-nothing but bare
floor. We found we had invaded the
domain of countless numbers of swallows
and bats, who disputed our authority to
enter their sanctum by flying around
our heads, occasionally making drive
at us and then darting away again. The
room, l should think, was about one
hundred feet long by fifty broad, and
full fifty feet in height, with large
dome in the centre the floor was COW
cred two or three inches in thickness
with dirt. and wishing to see of what
material it was composed, with my foot
| scraped up the dust and dirt of
century, and found beautiful tagging
of different colored stone blocks about
six inches square. The walls had once
been ornamented with paintings, few
only of which could be traced, the most
of them having long been entirely OBJ
liberated by time, dampness and decay.
rendered by disuse. At the opposite
end of the room from the pulpit was
gallery & for the choir) built of stone
also. We left this room and clambered |
up.into the belfrey, a window looking
out, disclosed to our view the moscow
cred roof; we got out upon it and tear
ing away the moss and dirt, found the
roof was composed Of fnely-cut and
cemented stone, built gradually arching
to drain what little rain that would fall