New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-10
MIR. SEWARD IN MEXICO.
".

ON THE WAY TO COLIMA-A RIDE UP THE LAKE
A STAGE RIDE IN MExICO-A MEXICAN
FARMER-CHEAP LAND-A BATTLE-GROUND
or CORTEZ.
HACIENDA DE CALERA, State of Collma,
Oct lO-After two days waiting at Manzanio the ram
suddenly ceased and clear sunset gave promise OF me
weather TO follow. At daybreak yesterday all MANIA
milo sstir and party prepared to leave ioI
Collma. BY arrangement the entire company, Dag anu
baggage" was to be transported by boats up the Ls"
de Cuyutlan thirty miles, then across the dlViue oi
leagues between the end Of the lake ana tho i'o
in Concord coaches sent down by Don Juan fHinH
Huarte the profitable proprietor of the immense estate
formerly known as Los Chinos," now as i" Naoi'''
from whence 1 am now writing, and thence over Vne
river and the succeeding three leagues 10 TINS place S
could be best arranged under the circumstances
Tina marty was safely on board the five boats PROVIDED
lust after sunrise The air still and the SKY clear ana
IN abort time the heat became almost nsupporta0le I'M
Ill some Mexican boys spread awnings over each
baavv Northumberland blankets around the sides to Keep
of the SUM- Our rowers FIVE in each boat nearly Naked
or entirely So worked we'll Inever saw better roWers'
They appeared be all OF pure Indian bood-the WORK
ing eemeuof the country. The Laguna de Cyutan rms
nearly east and for 80 miles, parallel with and out
short distance from the sea- and at this is from
four feet in depth, and one to six miles VIDE Al
would float steamer the year round
TO BETTER RELATIONS
When we had gone about twelve miles the lake, the
hotia came a halt opposite beautiful rocky island
covered with giant eacti All the boats came together
and in few minutes the entire party was engaged In
discussing with keen relish bountful lunch. When the
repast was finished Gov. Cueva proposed as sentiment
"Wecomo TO our distinguished guests peace and better
UNDERSTANDING and perfect friendly relations be-
tween the people and Government OF the great Republic
of the United States and the people and Government OF
the Republic OF Mexico" The toast drank with the
honors and duly responded to- and the fotins again
moved up the laguna.
On our arrival at Manzano from the steamer, at the
house Mr. Bartlng who most Hospitality entertained
our party during stay were provided with SIX
excellent camp bedseads furnished with beds ana every
thing complete. While going up the lake We noticed
among baggage six neatly wrapped packages covered
with mating and securely corded and learned with sur
prise that each contained Of these beds packed for
transportation and that they had been purchased e1
pressy for COma and were to be transported for
our especial from side Of Mexico to the other
EL PAso DEL RIO.
At2p reached the landing at the eastern end of
the lake. and found two light Concord spring coaches
sent from the interior for and multitude
OF attendants waiting to receive The mules In COM
mon the country the smallest have ever
Some Of them do not weigh more than 200 pounds
and 1t is large-slzed which will weigh $50 or 400
pounds But like the little horses Of the country they
are "hghtning" when 1t comes to travelling pulling
Three leagues-about n at most English miles
across fat, sandy country entirely covered with i'm
penetrable thickets Of small thorny shrubs, trees
Of the acacia species, cacti creeping plants, and
climbing vines, over road heavy with the
rains and poor at best brought to the Rio do Santa
Maria b small stream In ordinary times but now tre-
mendous torrent, thick with mud. 1t looked wholly i'm
passabe. On the opposite shore there is Village Of
palm matched bamboo huts Inhabited with exception
by families Of the civilized and Christian Indians Of the
cOuntry-Once poems, but now ali enfranchised. Tho
rocky banks were lined with dark skinned in loose
dravr abrOa
hats and with rawhide sandals their feet They
sgBaled the boats the opposite shore, and party
the natives Immediately put of into the raging torrent
some wading as far as possible ana pulling the boat by
main strength others handling the paddles. Our party
house of the great landholder OF the vicinity,
Don ignaSio lTgos his mouse Is OF panD0T OF cane
clean and neat the Parlor Of the most thrifty New
England housewife and his young wife-a comely woman
OF the spanish blood and typemade us at hone at once
Don gnaeio man OF about 7Oyears but stout and well
to inform Mr. Seward that the stream too high
allow of the passage OF the stages but that during the
night would subsde They would then put the wheels
of the in boat and those Of the other
side in second, and so row the cumbersome vehicles
leucys service" He had coaches in toerabe repair.
which he was ready 10 hSn 1p 70 convey us on S
Don Juan FiTmin Huarte where we were 10 pass the
night The old gentleman told that he had about 900
OF the best sugar COTTON ana Indlan corn lana
In America. and he did not know exactly how
many though quite number of square miles Of good
pasture lands IN this rancho, which he would sell Mr.
Fitch had wickedy represented me as the rich man OF
cattle all good stock though dimnutlYe, which he would
also dispose of cheap There might be 1900 10000 but
he would be particular about a few hundred head
any way He wanted TO upon larger rancho some
where up in the interior. agreed 70 think IL until
back, and give him my answer then. trust that
he will get tired out and die waiting 10 hear from
Dinner. consisting OF variety OF meats, vegetables
fruits sweemeats aud wines, was placed on the table,
and take occasion 70 say that cleaner better cooked
aud better served dinner cOnd not be obtained at any
hotel in the United States though there not sign
Of stove carpet or even floor about the premises.
AT sunset we saw our baggage train OF pack mules
the other shore, and the boats commence to
take We started at nghtfa for La Caera three
leagues further on, and whlred alOug the
heavy road at good speed by the smart little mules fur
nished by Don IgnacO. Up 10 this point the country,
except for the densely wooded mountains ia the back
ground might haze been mistaken for the Bayou Teche
country in Louisiana, though the vegetation
abundant, and soil richer and sOftera fine country
for cultivation Now crossed the LlanO de San Bar
tOlo. more open country, with occasional Indian viii
lagos. On this plain the Spaniards defeated with
great loss and driven back their ships In the time OF
the conquest by COrtez, but second battle resulted in
their favor and the Indian power Coua forever
broken. Passing IN the moonlight an immense hacienda
with solid stone walls all Sides partially deserted
arrived at La Caera at 10 O'Clock, and were warmly
welcomed t.