Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-04-26
BROWNSVILLE, Texas, April 10, '66.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, April 10, '66.
DEAR JoUREAL:-We reached this
place, "on the frontier" on the Sth
instant, literally tagged out with our
long and stormy sea trip. We we're
out twelve days, full long enough to
have gone from New York to Paris
Since our landing on terra frma we
have been resting, and trying to get
rid of the unpleasant rolling of the
steamer, AID have, as yet, barely
succeeded. The beds have the same
motion, while the dinner table goes
up and down as if it was trying to
relieve itself of its weight of dishes
Everything on terra .frsna have par
taken OF the ever-to-be remembered
roll and plunge of ship on rolling
sea. A day or two longer will
straighten us out, leaving all hands
in far better health than before.
This section of the country, bor-
dering the Rio Grande, is low, prai-
rie, almost destitute of timber, be-
yond what would seem to you to be
an underground, low and thick, and
which is here called "chapparal.
The soil between here and Brazos
Santiago in sandy loan, growing
richer as you ascend the Rio Grande
and leave the seaboard.
The inhabitants are mostly Mexi-
cans of a low caste, many of whom
are known here as "greasers." They
are villainous looking set and the
moment you set eyes upon one of
them, you iEstinctiyely put your hand
on your revolver. In fact it is a
standing rule among travellers to
never let one get within pistol shot
of you, if you happen to be alone.
Several men, between this place and
Brazos have been murdered by these
''greasers" within the past month.
They hide in the "chapparal's"
which line the road and when a man
comes riding along alone they "las-
soo' him and rob him of horse,
money and firearms. They are ar
rant towards and never molest
party of three or four. Many of
them come across from the Mexican
side for the purpose of plunder, and
it is almost an impossibility to catch
them. OF course you know a Mexi-
can, the mass of them, are nothing
more nor less than half breed Indi-
ans, about the color of our mulattos,
with long, straight, jet black hair
and coal black eyes. 1 should like
to describe to you Mexican house,
such as are inhabited by the lower
castles, but / am not versed enough
as yet in the technical names of
things to do so. Suffice it for the
present, that they are no better than
pig pens are in your country.
Brownsville is place of about
three thousand inhabitants, made up,
about half. from all the States, the
balance being Mexicans. The Mex
ican, which is the spanish, language
is spoken everywhere, far more /
think than the English. The houses
are low aad dingy, and with a few
exceptions, miserable affairs. This
is, so far, only the dark side of the
picture, and you must not conclude
that this Rio Grande country has no
redeeming features. / presume it
is no worse nor no better than all
frontier settlements. / like the eli
mate far better than that of Lousi-
ana, as tbs purer. We have it very
hot the fore part of the day, but
about eleven O'Clock a sea breeze
blows up, rendering the balance of
the day delightful. The evenings
are cool and we find it comfortable
sleeping under blankets.
The thermometer ranges at about
IS deg. at noon.