Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-27
PICTURES Of mFNICO.

A correspondent of the New Orleans Times.
writing from the City OF Mexico, gives the fol
loving interesting account of his trip from Vera
Cruz TO the Mexican capital.
WeIeft Vera Cruz at seven in the morning,
amidst = crowd Of donkeYs, Frenchmen, Aus
TRANS and Egyptians The cars in use Cd this
branch Of the railroad to Mexico are very much
like those Of the United States, but smaller and
narrower The locomotive steamed slowly, and
i'm mediately began to ascend, at first through
sterile, sandy region, which gradually changed
to q fertile country Wearied by the sight of
sandy plains We had passed, the eye rested with
relief on the green savannas how spread before
US Wild flowers. Of the most brilliant hue, en-
smsled the grass all around ", and birds
bright. glittsred through the soft balmy air alive
with their graceful presence. The mountains, st
fret misty and ndstiDct, began 10 stand out
more strongly, and the giant Orizaba. nearly
10 900 feet high, now appeared before US. its
snow-capped summit looking like white cloud
lost In the blue vault above. We stopped every
ten miles At station where motley crowd
welcomed US in every tongue OF the old and new
world. Here. "a through the warm climate. the
Egyptians 80 CONSIDERABLY loaned by the Pasba
Of Egypt to Napoleon III, are stationed We
saw stalwart " ubians dressed in white, with red
feses, their black faces forming a good contrast
with their costumes The Egyptian flag floats
side By side with that of France, but nowhere il
that OF Mexico 10 be seen. Here also, we're
struggling detachments of Austrians imported
recently to the number of 900 by Macmillan,
10 q costume which can scarcely be described. as
they wear a heavy blue blouse. very loose panta-
looms. and yellow leather CATERS. They wear
on their heads a high crowned grey felt hat.
with turkey feather sticking up quite indepen-
ulv
men. we'll armed with German rifles and sword
bayonets. On steamed again until we
rived at the village OF Ia SOlidad. where the
bridge crosses "A stream of that name at height
of two hundred feet. More Egyptians, Austrians,
French, etc There We delayed some time, and
could see the village which had sprung up. IL
resembles Bagdad, At the mouth of the Rio
Grande The scenery there was beautiful and
We now began TO enter the mountains. which
seemed TO guard the interior on every side We
soon crossed the bridge. the only wooden one In
this country, and ascending more abruptly soon
reached Paso del Macho, the present terminus Of
the railroad. having travelled over distance of
forty miles, which took three hours and a
half. At this place substantial breakfast
awaited u, as well the stages which were to
carry Us the remainder OF our journey To this
city. The fare from Vera Cruz is thirty five
dollars. including the railroad tickets. You are
allowed TO carry twenty five pounds OF baggage,
and are charged seventy cents for every add
tional pound We got into our stsge-niue in
side-and were soon jolting along dreadful
road, blinded by the dust and ehoked by the
heat, although the atmosphere grew cooler aud
cooler. SpasmOdic efforts are made here and
there To break mp gigantic boIlders in order to
macadamize tho roads When Macmillan
passed over this road it was hastily repaired by
throwing earth over the ruts and inequalities to
make him believe that IL was in good order, but
the heavy rains soon washed il away. leaving il
times than before No one would
readily believe how much that farce cost
At about > o'clock in the evening, we reached
the beautiful town of Cordova so Justly celebra-
ted for it, coffee. for the wonderful uxuriance
of its tropical vegetation. which here attans per
lection. tempered as it - by the height above
the sea Mango trees lined the road blossomng,
equaling in sire the largest oaks The foliage
of the mango is OF brilliant dark green The
banana grows as II broadcast every where. the
hedges profusey covered with the coffee plant,
orange trees of gigantic size. the perfumed lemon
trees. guavas, and the Justly famed abuacate,
the avocate pear with it, superb growth. every
where meet the eye In fact nature has seemed
too prodigal in her gifts. and never have | seen
combined so many shades of green. Flowers,
beautiful beyond description, exquisite parasites,
and the blossoms of many fruits loaded the air
with perfumes almost too intoxicating. Amid
cool shades of the trees, the rushing of nnumer-
able rivulets which dashed by us, the warbling
of birds, amongst which loudest aud sweetest
rang the notes OF the clarion bird which fills
the air with its clear melodies. which slowly die
away, leaving in The ear that metallic echo which
resembles the tar distant note OF the earonet--
We jolted through the roughly paved streets until
We reached the Plazs. where We rested our
cvamped limbs and were refreshed by a cup OF
hne chocolate, such only Mexicans pre-
pare. Stolid AustTians. IN their Italian bfigand
Austria Belgian Mexican costume. gaped at US.
and French officers with jingng spurs and dang
ling swords, and beggars. tormented Us; but yet
ue lett this lonely town with reluctance, to pack
again IN our sitting stage. We started at fnll
speed, as usual. scattering red breeches right
and leit-jumping leaping. humping and bang
ing our heads In familiar intercourse with the
tep of the stage, a. our battered hats testiged
Towards the mountains. going higher and higher,
the same lavish vegetation existed. but began TO
be invaded by plants OF colder cline Huge
precipices on one side, high mountains on the
other, roaring torrents every few miles, the road
winding on the side of tne mountains, giving
most gorgeous views while light lasted. From
one OF the passes. We could distinguish the Gulf,
a clear line of blue. plainly showing the earth :
curve Night soon overlook u. and tired, weary
and hungry We entered Orizaba at 10 o clock.
We were provided with rooms and supper. OF
rather that and dinner combined The Stage
Company furnishes the lodgings and food all
along this road, at fixed price The supper,
lodging and a cup of coffee At starting cost two
dollars. We had scarcely gone 10 bed when we
were awakened 20 start again. After cur
desayHno OF coffee or chocolate, according 70
fancy, We started precisely at one, falling into
our places with heavy groan, syery ones an
giles fitting bis neighbor's curves The road was
comparatively good for some time. until We
reached the foot OF the Cumbres ,summits) OF
Aculiengo Here. in short space OF time. you
ascend 900 feet by q series OF IiE rags which
carry you 10 the TOP OF these mountains The
Spanish engineers. who built the roads in this
country. always preferred going right over a
steep mountain 10 winding around It's base.
Here we were requested 90 walk as the ascent
vas too steep for the mules We complied aud
COMMENCED climbing. The morning misty
and raw and We could scarcely see this wonder.
iul work, for wonderful indeed j. this road as
monument of hard labor The road was so
steep that every few minutes We had 10 stop 10
breathe. and occasionally We took the abrupt
paths made bv the indians and in spite OF the
keen blasts which made Us wrap our blankets
closely around u. We were covered with perspi
ration and painted for breath The rarity of the
Atmosphere now began 10 tell On Va also. with
some ~ mptoms sembling asthma These pas.e,
are guarded by Austrians marching nm and aour