New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-26

pea Geauta ar5.ns Is fonnd on the hills, aud there
IS a trace of something like our Northern
coden-rcd in the valleys. lamps VI t 4c,ie.fS
or muleteeTs class OF singular hohe5y
who do the carrying trade OF Mexico; naeleIlu =:
ruined by shmish or battle so many thilgSS. III
Mexico bearing the scars of TCNOlutlOh HioIo 1u,"i
huts an adobe village dry as dust IN the SUM- dow
ing PARTICLES Of its architecture INTO our !aCos' a =
utOoking parOqua, somewhat ahllq1"iI,u Hr r
cracked by an earthquake; eaiih-coloIou h ,iS
mountains sparseiy bearded with trees OF DilslleH
cactuses looking like so many Spikes on 81 IiuOIf
subble soil the color of clay quahnea ny Il''u, 20
which there is a superilulty IN 3hu Hhu Watl ciupi
like the soil and at present husky th0ugn III S9ou
time the cereals grow well III tins lhneY ,Holu; q
few farms elaboTatey irrigated, sQcqU iaShloh' rs
/ am told. EMMY yateT-COuTses, few aud narrow
streams; numbers OF scruDhy palms, heIo a. az
through the mountains recently ,u4Ntlscu, - f
ing TUFTS quite like the dssipated-loong scalp OF
the palmettO sapIOtcS rare or n0ne but palOIi!ggo
many In the cactus groves; Oe9nders IN tne Wdyeluo
gardens; black pigs black cattle Dlack snesp, teIS
common if not positive rage; Chlckeis anu lu ho91
i'm spendjd feather troops Of laden J0ckaSoes bhdl
of size and great of blay-bmT0S by name, pio-
nouuced by muleteeTs with atempestuOuS F.pelIaps
the most afnable of all their breed, and for thelr
bulk the hardest beast OF burden IN the WoIlu' hu-
chachitOs asleep on their d0nkeys, or InIan W9neh
in the saddle with infants doing at Dack caOaleIOs
with brms incredibly broad and snowy sarapes OF
shawls long teams in the Tuts ana muu anu CI i
driyers-fOr Tuthfulness is not common Ill MeAloo,
and the poor mules occur 20 me sometiheS rs
an image of the people, IL being tho GUS
tom of drudges to beat other dIudgeS Il believe the
South Carolina negroes were pretty nara on tneII
German most of them Indian, and their captain
French, Cackling strange song IN cracked KEY q
sky of keen azure above us, ana the aoel u1aV III
round us: later a sunset OF an c0OIs anu sndposs
gloom and SplendOr blended COossauy IN hues OI
earthquake and eclipse and far IN the background
of blue and dn-cOlOTed hills the picturesque treas
nres of the sun piled high in blaze OF req ana golu
these things were the prelude to lehuacan'
We were quite tired of the days ride. when aDoui
six or seven miles from town, our escort gleSSteu
their brethren from headquarters, ana shortly aIltI
ward appeared the carriage OF the COminahueI-ih-
Chief. A yOung-lOOEing gentlemen III gray unIolni'
in respect snowy or pIetendlmg auNaIcei, 70 e'
brace his old fIiendand feOwcollegan, the Minister
from Washington. We were glad To accept ,ihe
honor of Gen. Diazs hospitality, and after ndlhg
through a wilderness OF the cactus ana mag ueS s
down found us in rooms at the Generals hepuqual1,
tcrs-a COmmOdiOus building IN the usual COoi anu
substantial style of the Country-large-Wlnd
apartments around a courtyard WIN g"He4t
and fountain Before We had LETT the last
grave Of organ cactuses the General IOuhH
occasion 10 try the merits OF new gun Jus5
brought him from the United states. lie stepped
into the bushes and with little ado bIogept uOWh
at a shot three four paomGSthe bird OF the pretty
national song dance Of Mexico. IL La FGatia mas
not sung YOU this curious ana charming dance ~ 10
her own fault. But to proceed
Tshucan may be briefly described as a small Town
of One-story and barred windows of several common
place converts used as barracks. ana win the
inVariabe plaza and parOqula the latter cracked by
earthquake. But the valley OF the lehuacan Is OF
far more consequence; us very uinlIut 10 lcIoltt
nature, and tins valley ls one OF neI siaiaucss'
estates. The vision Of its beauty Is, IN enect,
hmitess, mountains surrounding II at Instance OF
unreckOned leagues, and the line OF the valley
stretching from the State Of Puebla into that OF
0aXaca. The valley is realm IN itself Towns at
distance OF fifty miles are visible from It's PLAIN Inc
general scene OF this Outspread territory might wei
sub6mate the talents OF the best class oil our repro
ductive painters. The CerTOs COlOradOs STAND IKE
range Of great, gloomy foItreSses zone OF them Was
virtually used therefor III the spanish war; anu lne
effect of light and shadow on Their red rocky bas-
tiOns IS something so exquisite ana liIusOIy
that ] am sure Mr.. BlerStadts popular ca
rri IN I'd
reflect the good gigantic smile Of the brown eart"
whereof Robert Browning speaks They tempt the
thought that the most labOri0us most Photographic
reproducer viii fail TO convey you their subhmtiy
genial expression. genius subdued 10 Their spint
ike and shadOwY substances yet as untamed rs any
which makes its home. like the salanauder IN the
fire is wanted TO paint the meaning OF Their grand
quiet. Tuner would do, and none less. But ! am |
speakipQ of shadows and Of features only. Cfa the
mountains in Mexico which have seen thus far not !
one equals the Catsks IN palpabe richness and DaSkY
beauty; and the reason Is, OF course that the Mex
can nights comparatively barren OF foiiage. ne
valley is evidently dry agriculture prlmltife me
old round threShlng-stOns Tor clrcuinamDulaIng
horses has been i'm use here. Ii is said that salt can
be found hereabOuts, and salt at Saens ID good as
gold. yielding about $4,000 year
During our stay in Tehuacan for the past few days
we have seen most of what Is known as the army OF
the Orient both i'm field and in quarters. The troops
are principally disposed in the Converts ~ the town
Exclusive Of the cavalry, an arm OF nom ~ 10
], 800 strong, feeding in pastures at some distance
from the main body, the army numbers DIVISION OF
about 900 five regiments. II ~ small hut historic
Evidently u is a. poorly equipped as II Is Wti-ied
though on parades certain regiments are remarkably
and impressive. The atiOus are pot
pourr of all Sorts floating dish Of mixed vegetable
elements called puCherO and perhaps an ola p00rida
NJ some sort and other things unStluted. the
whole being plentfUliy seasoned with the torture
Of red pepper or chile-Heatly reilshed however by
the Mexican soldiers. shoes are scarce, ana sandaiG
common. showing that the MeXicans. IKE Other
patriots, have had TO march barefoot 20 glory ana
hs Excelleacy, Mr.. Romero, the troops appeared 70
decided advantage. evolving handsomely on the
plain outside OF tho town. Their small arms are pt
the Enfield and Springfield patterns; and the best OF
the Austrians, their other armament beng mainly
too heavy for field, and especially mountain service.
tray and blue coats yellow epaulets, white breast
straps. and cha seer caps Were thelr uniioIIn-tO0
much by half since the best and cheapest uniform is
lext 70 none at AL But the simplicity oithe Mexican
auk and file Is fond of colOrS-thOuGh with no greater
weakness IN this respect than some OF Their COM
handlers. The Generals staff appeared in gold em-
,roideTed jackets s)d-laced caps silyeI-laced red
With the poverty Of tho private soldiers; but these
reciOus equipments we're captured from the French.
The ComlnandeTiDCkiet, III his simple suit of gray.
vas as rnodestly dressed as posh Dle lis infantry,
am told, receive - cents per day; cavalry, -,
wmng their horgoSInOt 80 PAD wages, consul
ring the needs Of Che Mexican Government As for
he moral and physiqs OF the troops, can but Judge
upericially, They arc all darkfaced, and mostly
Indians Differed by Mexicaps, sOCallcd. Reg !
rule the faces indicate only physical
intelligence, which is but another. way Of
Indians are ignorant Their physique, however, Is
Of the toughest and most durable sort well made for
mountain marches, trOpic suns, muddy roads. With
education such might become all that could be
desired IN soldiers; nor need this education be mill
tary for the warke spirit appears TO be superabund
ant in Mexico. am not too far surprised ut hearing
Gen. Diaz say that he has marched some of Lis
troops more than fifty miles ia a single day-a march
unknown at the North. You must measure this fact
by the sandaled feet Of the Indians. They are aOt
only the greatest walkers, bat the greatest trOtters
in the world.
Let me speak Of Gen. PDIfrio Diaz sometimes
called the Grant Of Mexico. BY the accord of all
parties he is undoubtedly the best and brayest sol