The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-04-26

miles from its mouth. In return, the |
merchants receive hides, talfew, bar SILVER
and good old Mexican dollars which lat
ter are taken to New Orleans and there
recoined The export duty on all moneys
leaving the country is per cent, and as
the import duties are very high, OF course
smuggling IS carried on to some extent.
The ladies are not exempt from 1t, and
some of the fair senol1tas Of Matamoras
have been seen returning from Browns
vile with their proportions considerably
enlarged.
The Mexican Sta:e Of Tan,aubpas,
which adions our southern border, and on
which the eyes of great many of those
adventurous spirits are looking, (some oc-
cupying high positions,) is rich in It's
herds of horses, mules, sheep, goats and
cattle, and has large landed proprietors
who have their pcons Or slaves, and who
render their accounts to the Atcdfde OF the
town or district in which they reside
These Mexicans are sold for debt and the
rule generally is ''Once penn, always a
penn" Their condition is nearly the same
| as the slaves in the Southern States.
The cultivation of the land is very little
attended to, as the horses and cattle never
receive any grain; and corn enough for
bread only is raised. The want of rain
| is a great drawback to this country, but
notwithstanding this fact, two crops ot
corn can be grown in one season on the
same ground and if it receives any rail-
whatever, the yield is abundant, and witt
but very little cultivation. \ Mexican
plough and its operation, witnessed b,
some of the sturdy farmers of your county
with their minds eye filled with moderi
plough and pair of horses that Cambri
knows how to produce, would excite yer.
strong fit of laughter. Imagine pol
about II feet long, elbow-shaped near on
end, and armed with u piece of iron, an
attached to this plough mule or OK, an
a Mexican at the other end holding wit
DOtH IdHuS, anu tiicll tiAS u
Grafton of rooting the ground. 1t som
ingenious Dan Rice-of a-1 ankee coul
teach the sharp nosed hogs to root up
e field in concert it would be an improv,
: ment in the Mexican mode of ploughin:
/ The preparation of corn for food, is al:
i conducted in rather primitive manne
e The corn is stepped in water for two
three days, and then taken out and slight
:. boiled A Mexican woman then ge
down on her knees before a stone shape
like washbeard, and with another stol
shaped like Il rolling-pin, commences Il
: operation of grinding and converting
into paste or dough. This constltut
" their mill, and after going through i
milling operation, it is converted into tn
cakes and baked Gas buckw heat) witho
- salt. They are called 7ortiUas. Witho
- them no Mexican meal can be compile
As there are not very many facilities
the way of accommodations, travellers
sort to camping out. They do their o'
cooking on the road when travelling, a
when night comes on, they select the h
, place for grass and water, two essentia
&c necessary things to all travellers in Il
'A country. 1t was this quality in the Tex;
" that gave them superiority as Range
over the soldiers of a more northern cEI
~ in the Mexican War More anon.
u MUSTANG
oo BALTIMORE, April %, 1850.