New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-27
MIR. SEWARD IN MEXICO.


ITING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS-A SUNDAY
EVENING PARTITION sEYULA TO TACO
ALCO-THE LAKE OF STANDARDIZATION
AND DINNER AT INDIAN VILLAGES.
ZACoALCo State of JaliscO, Mexico, Oct IL.
We were cloud, it were, in zapoan, where
we arrived somewhat Unexpectedly in advance OF tne
time which had been fixed upon by the population anu
the reception Of Mr. Seward, though hosptaDe' lacAeu
the warmth and enthusiasm had noticed esewhereOn
trip We left ZapOan therefore, with no leeln9so
regret, view Of the fact that by proongng our
stay few days we might have been enabled 10 assist
at the bull fights which are last full week. ana Tor
which an immense ampitheater is now erecthg ana eH'
tensiye preparations making. The bulnghts are 10 De
followed by cockfghts on grand scale. IL Is htue
snRular that the people of the towns where the festivals
OF the Saints are celebrated with the greatest
furore take the greatest delight in the cruel
and demoraizng amusements of the bullrng and
the cockpit but it is true nevertheless Zapotlan Is
good illustratlopnof the union Of pley and brutality
Zacaecas aud other States have by legislative
enactment abolished bufghts but in JOlisco they are
still the popular amusement As advanced into the
Interior continued to ascend the spurs Of the Sierra
Madre until had reached point 20 miles northeast
ward from ZapOtlan when found ourselves upon the
summit of a range Of broken mountains in locality
famous for its brgandsge The robbers who have been
relenessy pursued and now being exterminated
Jasco formerly rarely allowed traveller to pass this
point unrobbed. All along the road from Zapotlan we
had noticed large wooden by the roadside Each
Of these crosses inscription giving the date Of the
murder of traveller by the brgands and such facts
as might be known concerning him, with request
for travellers to pray for the repose OF his soul
These crosses were in nearly every case adorned
with fresh flowers. though they were often
OF great age, judging by their weather-stained
and grown condition. From passages In Byr0ns
Chde Harold that this custom is observed all
over SPAIN and know from personal observation that
1t is common in oil Spanish America. In the Apache
Country of Arizona have times seen the poor Next
miners stay for hours to erect rude cross OF stone
the Of victim Of the relentless saVages
although they personally unacquainted with him.
and naught of his history only judging by his APP
pearance that he Christian. These gentlemen OF
the road are still numerous and daring Only ten days
ago they kidnapped gentleman at night In the streets
OF ZapOtan and him off to the mountains, where
they kept him prisoner until his friends raised and for
warded TO them 900 in cOin and few days before they
attacked and routed the guard the brother
of Mr. Oetlng North German Consul at Colima, within
few miles Seyua, and he only saved himself by the
heetness his horse The members OF the fraternity
who have been made prisoners and executed acknowE
edged their guilt and admitted that they were connected
with q band which had ramihcations throughout the
Central Of Republic, and keptreg accounts
of their profits and losses and made dividends to the
stockholders the best and most liberal commercial
system. But the Republic and the several States are
now actively at work in conjunction, and 1t "shor
shrt long rope" whenever they catch any OF the
THE VALLEY OF sEYULA.
From the summit of the range which we had been
ascending all the morning, looked down at IL m on
scene Of infinite beauty and almost unlimited extent
Spreading ont from the base OF the hills which we
stood to the very limit OF the vision in the eastward
magnificent valley, divided into farms with neat
hedges and fences dotted with mesquite and other
trees giving the appearance OF one vast orchard and
garden Fields Of tail corn, almost ripe for the
harvest, waved through all the valley and here and
there the white walls and red roofs of large haeendas
and village churches through the empowering
foliage Far away in the northeast were the mountains
which off the valley from Lake Chapola and north
ward rose q range OF magnificent mOuntans-a spur OF
the great Sierra Madre-green TO the summit and
checkered here and there with lighter green fields Of
corn The long Laguna de Seyula stretched through the
valley nOrth-eastward sde and villages could be
all along its banks The bright sun shone down on
all peaceful it does in June in the United
States and the dark shadows Of the flying clouds dfted
like the moving figures of panorama valley, village
and mountain But for brgands, and revolutions, and
foreign nyasons, this would be earthly paradise
AND a pleasant tia land to see"
AN AGREEABLE SURPRISE.
We descended at galOp into the valley Of seyula,
the long line OF military escort with their dashy
uniforms and gstening musket stretching far out in the
rear passed through small village inhabited mostly
by people Indian descent. who regarded with
restrained curiosity but great respect, doflng their
hats aud sauting with the pleasant compliments Of
country passed. At second village we came
Unexpectedly upon collection Of eight ten elegant
rages regular New.York turnouts drawn up in line,
and 80 magnifcently mounted, their saddles
being OF the cosest pattern and Rtterng all over with
silver formed double column. Instantly the bells OF
little church rang out Joyous peal unusual on Sabbath
day and as the coach stopped the hOrsemen advanced
and with uncovered heads while their spokesman
formed MT Seward that they behalf Of the Gov
crnment and people OF the State OF JaliscO, and
the authorities and residents Of seyula, TO
welcome him to their State and town, offer
humble dinner and the hOsptaities Of the place
for long time as he chose to abide with them. Mr.
Seward replied briefly and heartily possible, and
leaving the and entering thecarriages the party
started with the double escort at full speed for Seyua
five miles distant Arriving at the town, we found all
the population to meet and from every door aud
window and every accessible spot on the sidewalks
respectful sautatons greeted strangers from the
North. Dark eyes and red lips such as we saw but
seldom in the TERRA Caente." smiled welcome upon
us and as carriages rolled into the Plaza de Arma
the ringing Of bells firing Of cannon, strains OF martial
music viva Of the pOpuace added emphasis TO the
greeting Through double file Of welldressed and In
tegenlookng citizens then through the portal lined
with swarhy soldiers presenting arms, the party passed
into the great paved courtyard Of the Casa Gande of
seyua and entering parlor Of tho house made
at home at once
The presentations over the party invited at once
into the hail. where breakast-t was general dinner IN
fact was spread and the tables were speedily fled ali
the places occupied by party being taken by the
citizens and accompanying ladies' while swarm OF ser
wants and citizens waited upon them 1t is the fashion
In Mexico change the places Of the guests with every
dish and plate followed plate 10 rapid succession, until
we were surfeted Wines too, there In abundance
and the best OF all che dark rch fity and oily pro
grape resembling Malaga OF the finest
quality which 1t fully equals it does not actually excel