The New York herald., 1866-09-29


by diiapidajed, prson-ike staircase The services
closed As stood psar the entrance and the senoras
pouring out Shssr sSsns ~ whs
Tor ball room. The lower order Of Mexcans very
devoted to the forms OF their religion, and IN many
places In the country. and particularly In this State
Nueva Leon) to pay the church the tenh
portion OF their ncomc as in the days when the clergy
were all powerful in tho land. -tTs9 :!
Villa Almada is situated between the mountains and
has three thousand inhabitants Formerly extensive
mining operations we're carried on here and there st
other enterprise the unsettled condition OF the country
and tho difficulties Of transportation have greatly inter-
fered with them and there 10 but little The
people formerly engaged almost constantly In fight
ing Indians but IL Is now more than since the
latter appeared In this vicinity and the hope is indulged
that their raids have entirely ceased.
We we're of at an early hour on the morning OF the
fast Here as everywhere, precautions were taken for
defence against the Indians The ranchero and his wife
were over eighty years OF age and though dried and
They related number OF their experiences with the
Indians and stated that party of them had rode up
fore, but without manifesting any hostile intent.
TIE MESA on GREAT TABLE
the Mesa, elevation Of land some sixteen
hundred feet above the surrounding level the top of
forms extensive plain, containing twenty Ave leagues
OF land Of the most fertile character It's elevation
places II practically In the temperate zone, and the
ter II is Well watcred and large amount Of stock IS
raised upon IT, 1t belongs to vidaurr, Who previous 10
empire the liberals drove them all off, for the Of the
army. There is but pathway up the elevation, and
this only feasible to men and animals; wagons and
other vehicles taken apart and carried by piece
NEAL The rancho thereon is now mostly deserted.
MESCAf.
During the day We passed an establishment for the
manufacture Of mesca the native drink OF tho Mcxcans
The establishment consisted Of two or more miserable
jacals, rough and press, and a something
sembng huge coal pit from the sides OF which issued
late locality Any member OF the old washingtonian
Temperance Society wonld have selected It as the very
coils. Mesca is made from the juice Of the maquay
plant, which grows here wild and in great quantities
The root is first placed within pit and covered over
with earth, 1t is roasted for certain time then
taken out and the juice pressed from it. This in its
original state Is known as aYua rieL is very harmless
and Is drank in large quantities by the lower orders
Ferrpenied this becomes the paque which distilled be-
| comes the mcsal This liquor Is slightly Intoxicating,
is excellent duretic and its pure state is much
less injurious than most Of the socaled imported liquors
drank in the country. fas
i IAMpAssAa
We arrived at this place six o'clock p NJ. Here,
in many other cities Of Mexico, observed number of
disconsoate looking "eonfederates' lounging about in
Istsss purposeless manner Very tame for the most
part though occasionally will be met with who will
loudly assert that the South was never whipped and ex
the creates. anxiety to g. tho battle over again
Lampassas has four thousand inhabitants II Is called
"he Cradle Of Liberty as her sons have always been
| eral ideas Hero vdaurri was born, in house which
still belongs his family. General Naranjo, gallant
officer in Escobedo's command resides here and almost
every family has its representative In his command
There immense number OF unfinished houses
stares out like some old ruin Of the past We had ex
peced meet here Senior Naranio brother OF the Gen.
ea who had been appointed Collector OF Customs and
who it was anticipated would accompany US TO FL Paul.
He had however, started for that place two days before
Coahula, the old road running into Tamaulipas. wo
the regretted this as We learned that parry or n
an and the wild and desoate country through which
much OF the balance Of our journey lay was one well
adapted for the operations Of the cosardly maudsrs in
and pleasant nights rest, started at six o'clock
the morning Of tho 2Sth As we rode out OF the city
our way led through level country. To the right and
eft Of us were pleasant valleys and at intervals haci-
enda Largo herds Of horses cattle and OBJ
yards in advance holding his ride saddle with
wcre however. mot much increased BY the positive
Of the driver that upon the FIRST appearance Of
the s salado river usually forabs but owing 70 rains in
tho up country now deep rapid and turbulent stream
wa. 10 Sa :ssa. Sspdsssd sss
Of war was Immediately called, q which the
driver presided with much @ emphasis and no dignity
Of Moxicans both sides Of the river who, a. all
such occasions. sprung up n 4 by magic twas finally
ssSs.s, fss ~hoh .au.d two enOrss sne harness so
.ns% IN sSs aug then our bag
pay otes at the new post and ourselves arrived tho
cCsiss shore v. i,n;msasssly proceeded 70 nnehs
bly IN crossing over the heavy coach, and amid the
savoy odor Of kd chicken &o laid down IN the shade
L
into q many pieces as practicable and piled upon tho
boai Az We were eating dinner Il appeared in
ns wsS
shout Of triumph but our exultatons Immediately
that large hole had been made in The bottom Of his
coach Much worried at this melancholy accideuG,
Of quarter Of dollar nmedatey under the seat occu
pied BY myself We expressed the positive opinion that
need not retard our progress, a. which the driver
We renamed here until SIX o'clock on the morning Of
29h and again started on our way After travelling
for couple OF leagues We entered upon the road
which had been cut through the cspperal leading
II Pau. 1t very rough indeed and progress
| very slow. An occasional deer was seen, and and
thcn serpent glided pah. Ratesnakes are
very numerous here, and the ransheros frequently
Of the bite, but what did not learn herd Of
Wild horses nths distance At which one Of the
immedaisy started OF !. tremendous pace we Va .rs IA.
volled until eleven O'Clock NJ, resting usual during
much ssaed to care for indians or r. serpens p rom
| both Of which there was possibility Of danger
out and was matter OF some doub. whether wo would
md any before reaching the river distance Of thirty
| too far for mules 70 travel without drink.
| ATTACK nj THE INDIANA
we hsa ridden some slx miles when on an sminsncs
thought Of this AZ rst But time passed. and they
did not overtake us, u was voted suspicious and oil
necessary preparations made for attack As Il
was uncertain from which point II would come, our
main within few yards Of the wagon, and 70 keep q
sharp lookout The driver laid his pistol beside him.
and, with his assistant urged the mules forward ~
rapidly possible Tho balance Of the party dismouned
and arranged themselves either side Of the vehicle
with the exception Of your correspondent who having
an abiding confidence In hD own destiny and holy
ror Of the In Ito brightness, retained his We
moved forward thus for half hour each moment the
probabilities growing stronger that robbers Indians
we're IN the vicinity when the driver announced horse.
70 Is ss red r csa and ' anTn: % halt va:
had no artillery. Leaning from the coach with tho
| tenon OF Descending caught glimpse OF . white
shrcd horseman approaching at brisk trot and the
samo time observed our driver himself from his
| seat, grasp his pistol and face towards the
expected foe, excellent mark for arrow, spear or
bullet This sight relieved Of all idea OF danger and