New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-14


aDe slcne til bright Aurora tired the e.-trn ssy
joyirg The tsDq a,r,y Of The scene and msnrg
!. spies Of ,h. past and the oopcs for the future
uas within fh miles OF the cOset then, bet row. Nd
the heat Of the Indian coanuy, to. same sonous
orhe k,pt their watch WITH pe. The Pl ades AM
HaJes listers seven in each group, eos-ly followet
by the glorious constellation Orion, rise ab of
ocsck and porsue th.n eourse through the horzon,
lille the Great and Ltte Bear revolve always above
the horizon ard bright Snns, scrnipg wit, the lu-ter
Of pspet 10 the sou beast together sitn Dumeroua
sr,ups sno considerations wbion toe geography of toe
beav.ns depcts al clam our admiraton. Nor bar
NY stsrhon been without reward, for my ~.;ch oeSe
out Of repair have leaned to judge of the laP-e Of
time by watching their course through The hea0ens.
Such is ole Of the great dvsntsges Of travel D-nisd
tue system and regularity which chsrstenze every
thug At home, lean to depend Oh ourselves to q
greater extent and 10 compensate by DOR ows oseiva-
ton ingenuity for the ant of things when we have
hitherto reckuped among the indispensable accessories
10 hsppines ~ and comfort.
VEGETATION.
Found no nosouit trees after leaving Fort Davls
until within twenty miles of the Rio Grande. Cats
olsw, cactus, and the Spanish bsy"net We're the only
shrubs. The tree cactus, a. have called 1t, or TIE
fouqaier0 Of botany, is 70 me the most beautiful ana
interesting Of tie cactus iiy Ii SO 'ots ionh
from the ground ss single trunk or stem, ~h'co
throws # branches Fl I'M the very base, and these IN
tur1 bavips their minor branches tree of consider
able dimensions formed, ranging from three to i've
feet in hight We occasionally met Ia se groves OF
them appearing in the distance lbe thi"kets In WIN.
ter. when de- stitute Of leaves Their entire surface,
which in Sunmer time is bright green, is covered
with innumerab.e tbOrns and from the end OF eacl
bmb q yellow flower grows from which, later In the
seeson comes the SEED pod. The plant think Is 40
Annual existing for only one season, spc g'osing from
SEED. At all events the most of them we're dfying
up, whitening and dying. S"ll 1t s.ems very large
sbIub, and sol,d wood for u pant maturing IN zoe
sea or, ard it may be several years IN attaining It's
full perfection Tee climate s.eus toO dry for such
luxnrisrit vegetation, but other way Can ac-
count for the general decay ] witnessed among TIE
species. AS it dies the thopy bark peeis OIL, aud
leaves the naked tree standing alone. The ~oOd is
6lleo with holes Of every shape, shich give it very
singular appearance
The Spanish bsyopet, ~ we approach more
portbery latitude and the frosts OF Autumn unge It's
lesves, also assumes q very singular appearance
Wbet, er from the devsstaons of fire, some otoer
csue, this plsnt seemed to be almost universally
deao the dry stalks diveted of toer leaves or b.yo
pets, ard siancDg forth IN huge proportions They
are surnounted with q tas.e tutt very like Oh In
oisn's bs.dcrcss. Indeed they 20 resemble the nd
man form at times a. TO Mt de6 rhe jitgneo
and opin,on Of tne most experienced Western men.
Some of them are not ess 20 feet IN hight aud
is inches in diameter. They are fgnt and prhy sod
wien perfectly Cry, burn bnIisaty till qiite con
tumed IL ~oud quite sstOn'sh your readers to ace
mon nsIchrg into camp WITH log u icAer than h'n'
self aud 20 feet in lei 9Th but foond it very light
buoen, and supplied our camp'ires thus for several
nights.
Mesquit and grams grass were plentiful ali along the
rosd These grasses are fsvorites with animals, and
thew VIII eat DO other kind while either of these are
accessible TIE lsteris the larger and more Dutnclous
possessing rot and fresh appearance near the roots
AID in the inner part Of the blade when al opp enty
dead. Other kinds Of grass are fouad all Along .he
ROAD but ttese two vsrIeties are ! thas Ae 'eheo
upon for grazing. Mesqot grass IL short a'd nne'
cu,pe up in small punches aud generally growing
m 10 other varieties We frequently set tue prar' ON
FIRE While enjoying caOpfrss, sno 80 rsPidy would
il spread that several times it was only Win 'xreme
difficulty We could suodue it before much Damage was
done.
DESCENT INTO TBE RIO GRASDE VALLEY
In tie vicinity Of Eagle Springs, winch APPEARS 10
be the moot elevated table land after leaving Fort
Davis, tire road gradually slopes to a lower A'atnde
until within about eleven miles Of the No "'nh'e'
when il leads through a mountain pass or canon. IL
is pr, baby two miles long, ana IN places so narrow
that two wagons cam pass each otper fAt OF the
s,ee.ry If rocky bat not grand and imposing Inns
canop through the mountains bordering the eastern
bn,k of tn. river leads the valley OF the rver a.
. po;p. epht, five miles below Fl Paso. The road Is
,to,y in some places steep, and when comparatively
smooth ,nc,pipg After arrivug at the western teI-
unus it il still nine miles to che nver IL Sas oo'u'
b,us,. ring morning when We emerged IRON this mar
r.xc.1,n into the broad valley Of Rio del Norte.
For t.. fret tire IN my HE, looked upon the tei-
tor, Of neighborieg Repubnc of Mexico. Lac tue
eastern hank the Opposite shore wss shut IN by a
., ~, of nonp .ins which looked bleak and desois'e
ON such day. rode forward 10 advance OF tne
tram urgipg my horse to the utmost OF his strength,
after Journey of two days without water, ANXIOUS 70
be the first TO gaze upon the famous hVer % wen
k.oxn IN II h.tory of our late war with the KePuo
lie and il the treatrs rowing out o. ths' sVea'' ou.
Iwss too late TO win the Isures. Never he'ees,
ssken the thirst of my horse III lis hu'ay "A'e'''
ard bhed ny hands and face before returning &c Inc
train which by this time hsd reached the camping
ground. Hating one day to allow our animals TO 10
e,,,, .c,,, star, 3D. and arrived at Fort Qaitnan,
FIVE and half miles above the frst encamPmsns on
Rio GraDde.
FORT QUIINAN.
This is new post, having only been occupied soou'
M. month and has been established more fof the sop
pression OF thevirg than for protection ag~n'' "'
d,srs. Ii is AZ essy TO run property over Inc ''o'
into foren territory that there is great temptation 10
.,s,ce in the business. and if toe establishment OF