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

After breakfa We journeyed along:
seeing nothing Of importance to relats
except occasionally train of Mexican
carts, the sight Of which would make
the Frenchdan clap his hand 7 to his
reuolvare, to be prepared for the hrst out
break of danger. 1t was nearly sun:
down when We first came in sight of our
long-looked-for haven. SAN ANTONIO DE
BExAR. 1t is beautifully located on the
river Of the same name it contains
population numbering about fifteen
thousand, about one half Of whom are
Mexicans, the balance are English,
French; Germans and Americans, Of
which the two latter carry on the prin.
cipal business done there. The Ame-
rican and foreign population have erect.
ed some fine Buildings, but the most Of
the houses are built of ado6ss, with
walls Of great thickness the windows
being narrow and strongly barred with
iron rods, which, while they afford
greater degree of security in times of
danger, give the city gloomy and pris-
on like appearance. They are generally
built one story high, and fat roof with
a balustrade around, which in the sum.
mer the inhabitants use to sleep upon,
often having their bedding on the house.
tops for months. generally no rain ap-
pears to SPOIL the arrangement. The
business of San Antonio is immense,
owing to the large Mexican trade, which
commences by daylight in the morning
and at ten O'Clock, it drops of and all
parties young and old, both male and
female. take their usual Siesta, which
lasts till about three o'clock in the after.
noon, when they awake to resume bust:
ness again, when all is life and gaicty
until late in the night. The streets arc.
narrow and tagged with stone, some Of
them are very narrow, being not more
than twenty feet wide, and often turning
an abrupt angle, or being entirely block
ed by some huge building. "
The Mexicans are generally very
strict in their devotions, their Sunday;
like Sundays in all Spanish countries.
is over at noon, when their holiday COM
mences. Eager to see anything new
aud curious, when church was over / fol-
lowed the largest crowd into the main
plaza, where were ranged on all sides a
number of the sporting gentry, with
occasionally Senorisa smoking their
Cigarettes and dealing monte in a man.
ner that was conclusive that they were
adopts in the art. Occasionally among
the tables was a cockpit, around which
were the Mexican fancies with their
high-topped hats, mounted with silver
buttons, and betting on the final success
of this or that favorite Rooster their
conversation being carried on in Span
ish, was jargon to me. After sufficient
sight seeing of this kind l returned to
the Plaza House. for supper. When
supper was over I resumed my walk
around the city. fell in company with
a sight-seer, like myself. who soon
made acquaintance, and together we
sauntered around the city. AS the
evening advanced, the outdoor Monte
tables were closed and amusements o
a different kind commenced, which con
sisted of a Spanish dance or fandango
got up on much cheaper scale thar
the Cotillions of more Northern cities
A place is swept off on smooth grounc
and the music commences, which il
generally Guitar and Violin thei,
changes are many and the national Msxi
can dance { La Ponchada) is never for
gotten. We visited several of these
dances in different parts of the cit,
during the evening, our stay being Ions
enough to see that the dark eyee
Senoritas could rival their more north
ern sisters in the May intricacies Of the
dance. As we left we observed tha
some were smoking and drinking. which
is carried to so great An excess tha
these fandangoes furnish frightful occa
sions for murder. robbery, and many
other acts of outrage. l understand
however. that the city authorities art
taking measures to stop these Sunday
exercises.
In travelling about the city saw man,
beautiful gardens, but not so large o
luxuriant as those Of Galveston, OWN:
in some measure to the protractet
drouths of this part of the country
The only way Of supplying the sufi
cheney of rain, is by irrigation, in fac
whole farms are irrigated for miles VI
and down the San Antonio river. Man,
of the ancient buildings of this cit,
show traces of having suffered in forlne
days from the chances of internal war
fare. or foreign invasion. The. oil
Mexican Fort, ALAMO, once the idol
/ lied rallying ground of the Mexicans
and they even still cling around it wit
many fond remembrance. .as they revel
back to the days when Crockett an
: Bowie were killed. is now in the hand
Of Uncle Sam and used as store hous
! for the army
The climate of South eastern Texa
is unsurpassed on the globe for healt
and the purity of its atmosphere s
pure is it that the residents preser,
t their meat in the hottest weather, b
. hanging it in the open air to dry. Th
q soil of this country generally, is ricl
but on the uplands no grain is raised Q
, account Of the long dry season, but
q place of the cereal productions. tb
a country is covered with vast herds I
!, cattle and horses, which are raised wit
J, far less trouble and a better remVner'
ton.
K Can the u. s. Nail be De,ayed.-In the U.
!. district court, at Cleveland, the case Of Il
United States os Charles Cooper, involving t
= question. can the United States mail be della
u ed was recently decided. The Pittsbure
D Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad Compa,
;. it appears were indebted to Cooper. He Q