The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-26
M MEXICO.
our zAcATEcAs CORRESPONDENCE.

M E XII co.
our zAcATEcAs CORRESPONDENCE.
Ortega Sent to San Luis for Court Martial
Juarez Wants Civil Dissensi0ns 20 be y
Avoided-The Mines Nenr SOmbrerete-De-
scription Of Fresniiio-Arrivai at Zacstecas.
ZAcATEcAs, Jan. %, 1867.
We left Durango Monday January H. 1867, about ak
A. NJ escorted out OF the city by number Of the lead
ing citizens There was not however, much enthu-
sasm displayed has heretofore been noticed at other
cities and towns. About two r. N. we reached the
hacienda OF La Punta where breakfased We AFTER
wards proceeded the hacienda Of San Quentin which
reached quarter TO eight M-seventeen leagues
for the day. The road throughout the days journey
was very rough and the country thckly spread over
with volcanic limestone boulders The valleys traversed
well watered for Mexico by the southern branch OF
the Rio del Mezquiial which flows through Northern
Jallsco into the Pacific. The mountains are tumbled
about In wild confusion and frequently covered with
extensive forests Of mezquit and other trees The lands
in the valleys of good quality and irrigated by the
waters OF the river produce bountifuy Of the cereals
principally In the afternoon passed two large
cornelds Of which had 1--WE thousand and the other
seven thousand Immense forests Of nopral are
scattered along the road many Of the trees thirty feet
high.
San Quentin is little collection Of mud huts with
the usual casa grande of the hacienda in prominent
position There are perhaps, one hundred and fifty in
haoitants The accommodations for tho night were
rather poor and the President well the rest had
to rough little
On Tuesday we left San Quentin at half past eight A.
NJ breakfasted at San Felipe hacienda, and reached
FL Mortero hacienda ten leagues journey, at three
p NJ The road good as far as San Felipe the lands
that bordered it very FERTILE but not well watered
yesterday few immense cornfelds which we passed,
were surrounded by wood and stone fences The noun
tains around very lofty, and we were riding
probably at an elevation of thousand feet above
the level Of the sea- San Felipe is small agricultural
hacienda with perhaps seventy-ive Inhabitants. Ell
Mortero is true old baronial residence beautifully To-
Gated upon a commanding eminence, and overlooking
Immense and fertile valley, completely locked in by
lofty mountains. Around the great castela.ed mansion
are the OF the poems who live upon the estate Over
the front entrance are the family arms Of the
Count of Guamapt the former owner of the
which, during the time OF the Spanish Mayor
Argos, belonged TO the family These estates we're then
immense, and extended northwad beyond the capital OF
Durango 10 the hacienda of Guadalupe. Esteven del
Campo the last heir of the doman but bad manage
ment and prodga life finally reduced him to the
hacienda Of Guadalupe, which he afterwards Sold and
died in miserable rancho y
FORMER Doen glorious
old feudai castle where feasng aud the wassa bowl
the glory of the hour The old mansion is about
hundred and fifty feet square, and built around
interior court yard about hundred feet each SIDE
Pared corridors around the Interior and balconies
found at all the front windows of the second story
From these balconies winding through the great
valley the little river which, like silver thread gtters
here and there in the sunshine SO vast is this valley
that you the clumps Of mezqu trees they
grow smaller and smaller to the vew and gently climb
ing the long slope of the mountains, finally, four
thousand feet above and many league from you. lost
almost or least appear like verdure the mountain
side. On the side Of the mountain, two leagues from
the house, the grass and bushes all fire and
strong wind blowing up the SLOPE In the darkness Of
the night tho sight was wildly grand.
On Wednesday we travelled from Ell Mortero TO SOM
brerete eleven leagues. We left FL Mortero
O'Clock A. NJ, after the usual cup Of chocolate. At
point about and half leagues beyond, and the
hacienda OF Conception is the dividing line between
Durango and ZacatAcas observe that there has been
marked difference in the reception OF the government
along the route to-day. II Is chihuahua over again.
Every rancho pours out its inmates who wish to stop the
carriages and to shake hands with the President Be.
fore we reached the breakfast point commission met
us from sombrerete Who welcomed the President and
formed part Of his escort onward At the Arroyo del
mission met the President and the whole party gathered
on the bank Of the river where welcoming speech was
winch have noticed in nearly all his speeches. he never
fails todmonsh the people that is not the conclusion
OF their efforts when they have been freed from the
Fronch, but Afterwards comes the consolidation of
peace Avoid civil dissensons," said he, scultivate
harmony and obedience to the laws"
The President and Ministers then took the carriages
which had been sent for them from the city, and pre-
coded by band Of music In carriage, rode into Som
or s sSs o the poor -, and children S
few miserable rags-crowded the roads far outside the
city and lined the hill sides the route into town.
rotng ~ crowds alongside the Presidents carriage -
The whole city, I believe had turned out en- mas~
walk remained in : house. In the suburbs battalion
OF cavalry was drawn up to salute the passing cor.n
The eyes Of the Whole population were lighted up viii
observed as yet ON the route The President was re-
ceved at the principal building Of the place. and three
70 which he responded in few appropriate words
The country raversed to-day 10 along bUad and very
fertile valley, bounded the north and sosth by lofty
limestone ridgeA This valley is a vast corn held and
II OCCASIONALLY dotted with hacieudas and ranches OF
from nfsy TO one hundred and fifty inhabitants the
entrance TO Sombrerete Is very grand the road
winds through the mountains for about four miles,
havcrsina, for part OF the way, a wild look
rainy IL must be apefcct torrent Huge pima
cles Of limestone rock form buresses 10 the inaccessible
h IN
weight, which threaten az. every moment 70 launch
themselves into mid air and plunge 10 their eternal
homes
At the entrance Of the building occupied BY the Presi-
dent the people had spread French nag on tho pave
ment which whoever entered the building bad to
walk l did not observe the President he went in;
but walking with the Minister Of War; General YRna
Mcja observed that he avoided stepping upon II as
much as possible One Of the principal citizens Of the
place also noticed IT, and exclaimed You do not tread
the French flag admired the answer: TT 70 the
French Emperor not France, that makes war upon us
France il republican 1t heart and will lead the
In repubcanizing the Old World, while we. In connec
ton with tho Untcd States will repubicanize the New.
That flag represents the French people, and will yet
sert its republican rights; lot US therefore respect in
that light"
Sombrercte 10 situated In mountain valley upon the
margin or q little river. IL takes Its name from q
peculiarly shaped mountain, which looks like sombrcro
or hat Il Il q celebrated mineral district and now,
within radius Of seven leagues, found numerous
and valuable silver VEINS unworked account OF the
condition Of the country. II IL reported that Ia 1902
the owner Of the mine known the Veta Negra took
out all in nine months This mine, about three
hundred yards Deep 10 abandoned and full OF water