New-York daily tribune., 1866-04-07

md how could complain of the tiles and musketoes,
bursting upon in clouds with fury Ike tna' Vi '"e
Ike all travellers venturing into an unknown couh'
t,y first inquired aboat the road and asked ANTONIO
who then leading the way throngh morn ola quas
mire if we would soon strike the highway lie sad
in few minutes and soon. indeed, we leit the quag
mire TO come a mule track, about TWO ieet Wlue US
crooked as a corksorew and as smooth Again asked
ti m lead me TO the highway Antonio replied that
Mexico had no other highway than the one we were IN
Spanards il is true had but few roads Dut the re-
public which had risen against tne nau % Io' on' , Se
stroyed Spanish yoke but Spanish routes also so mat
the whole land was then free from oppression. Inc
policy of the Republican Presidents was to reduce the
country TO a system Of mule and donkey tracks, quaR'
pires ponds and sloughs which had not only the ad
vantage of doing away with the expenses attending
annual repairs. but was also protective barrier
against immigration from abroad and foreign INVASION
Antonio informed that the natives Of the country
and the Indians in particular, held the white race ID
profound detestation, sentiment transmitted ron
generation to generation as remembrance oil Cor!eS
and his companions and of the cruelty OF the spanish
VicerOys.
As / am not a magician. and could not In one DAY
reform the work Of the public commissioners on MeA
eau highways. submitted to the present conultioh VI
things and tried TO persuade myself that Antonio was
right, and that dOnkeytraoks were protectoh hHuns
ambitious neighbors, and the pest possible military
roads With this conviction, shaken sometimes
must say by the Jumps Of my horse and by the dmcuy
of holding on-not to say by torrld sun and parch.
inc tlrst-we reached at In the evening hehGd OF
nosada "a small hOteD, where We fonnd about dozen
Mexicans men of energetic and resoute appearance
sf small size but stout, and on the counenances OF
whom you could easily detect the martial ardor oil the
warrior blended with the craft and cunning OF the
Indian Their skins were not oil OF the same nue.
among them men OF different races. or mixtures
of raceS-the copper-coOred Indian the yellow creole
the brownish mulatto the ebony negrO but OF what.
ever stock they belonged from whatever branch OF
the human family they might have descended they
were when l saw them exclusively absorbed ny one
and the same imperative feeling-a determination 10
protect their home and to defend it, arms in hand
against the coming invaders
Mans position in civil life varies with the society in
the midst Of which he lives, distinguished man in
his own country may sometimes be Ounce In foreign
lands Education does not extend everywhere with
the same influence, and Newton travelling in Mexico
might have very well been mistaken for an ass by the
AZecs, The short stay made in the ftendd satisfied
that my servant Antonio far better adapted TO
Mexican circles than myself He received more at
tenion than did even courted by bis aoquaint-
ances while suffered to linger in corner or 10
content myself with simple tokens of usual poiteness
Antonio. learned. however afterward did not know
how to read or writei but lie was evidently what tne
people among whom we were then travelling appreciate
nost-he was brave 10 fault, faithful to his country
cause and one Of the best cdpeddoes bulehters) OF
Mexico.
Overcome by heat and fatigue retired early IN the
upper part of the house telling Antonio, who was
then drinking with his friends. TO awake me be
fore daylight did not wish TO travel by the heat OF
the sun. l stretched my weared limbs on bed OF
straw and moss closed my eyes, aud did my best to
sleep. To my great dspeasure. however, this proved
TO be difficult than travelling through Mexican
highways. Vainly did | strive TO forget the bloody
scenes had witnessed at Tampco the danger OF tfay
cling through country ravaged by civil war the diff
Gully of getting to my place Of business through the
most abOmnable road which ever afflicted human sight
these unpleasant remembrances and images were In
cessanty crOwding upon my mind, driving of sleep
from my heavy lids and exciting my Imagination.
Soon the musketoes came wbistng in in the most un-
pleasant manner; they were followed by bats, which
avaed themselves of the open windows 20 pay me an
uncalled-for visit and drum against the walls of my
room with truly republican freedom. So after on honr
e. 90, Of ha1
came to the window 10 see If the damp atmosphere
could not cool down the agitation fmy nerves.
1t was one Of these calm, serene, splendid nights,
full Of mysteries of soft and languishing experiences.
boundess ocean of dark green was under my feet,
and from this abyss Of folinge toward heaven.
towering peaks OF emerald formed by huge clusters OF
high trees from whose tops fell with all the grace Of
wOmans headdress the elegant festOons OF thousands
Of vines softly agitated By the breezs Westward in
the direction Of San Lus Poos the rugged front Of
some extngushed crater; eastward the silyery lines
Of the Rivers Panueo and Tamesis. Nearer me, the
brown spire OF o church; nearer still, the undulatiDR
leaves OF palmre carrying to my face in it, perpe
uai motion the sweet scent OF tho atnosp sphere This
incompatible landscape was lighted by moon as soft
as the glance OF FIRST love as serene as a morsers
and orchards, jasmine rose-bushes, maguOhas and
orangetrees filed the air with sweetnessthe incense
which nature in her gratitude. sends up 20 heaven.
! was lost in the contemplation OF THIS loyehness
when nv ears caught rumbing sound, like that Of
cavalry corps advancing IN the direction OF the tHdd
Every minute the sound was growing louder. was
soon convinced that had not been deceived by my
senses Twenty minutes had not elapsed before ! saw
debouching from the bowers surrounding the place,
one after another and with mnch precauOn about 100
cavalrymen in glitiering uniform and looking as II
they were Mexican officers Of rank. withdrew my
head from the window and shut the aperture with my
handkerchief leaving only small corner open 20 see
what was going outside. My curiosity was soon
satisfied the men alighted from their horses tied them
10 the trees around and then went into the utHda,
where lost sight OF them.
AS this was not exactly what wanted, left my post
at the window, dressed and slipped out Of my room
noiselessly as possible. Mexican houses rarely
over stories high that by standing on the stair
head could hear the conversation below. Although
could hear Oerably well, II was impossible 10 see. An
Indian girl coming up the stairs at this moment com
PEELED 10 retreat TO my room but as she was passing
by called her and polling ont dollar slipped into
her hands asking II she could not put me into room
where could see what was going on down stairs with
out being seen. She nodded and taking me by the
hand led me into front apartment where was small
sBy-hght opening upon the barroom below first
glance downward acquainted me with the position
The first floor Of the enda was occupied by two large
rooms furnished like French cafe with tables around
which the guests Of the house sat,
The skylight, which / made my observatory, was
built up like funnel SO that could everything
down stairs without being seen. The rooms below
crowded with natives dressed in ouisontrs
or breeches buttonng the sides, others In military
costume the richest perhaps in the world They wore
on their heads sombrerOs with brms wide to CON
ceal part Of the face and their shoulders the Qs
titan jacket adapted to the climate Of Mexico, Saw
among them greater mixture Of Spanish blood than in
Qatg.tIlDR vi OieAlchnb nhu yet seen WHENCE Il
concluded th't the military element Of Mexico Of
the conquering race Only they were dancing then.
precisely the contrary o. what they did four centuries
ago under Cortez and assuc the place and position
assigned ut that time by the IndlSus whom they subu
gated.
Among them was a man of middle satnif. thick set,
with resOlue and energetic features having Something
OF Montezuma in the color 0the skin and IN the shape
OF the eve mixed breed In which the Caucasian was
prepouderant A pair OF large epaulets and q rich
sword held at his side by a green, red and white
scarf woad have indicated his rank had not the other
officers spoke TO him with Difference, and had he not
himself given orders which executed forthwith