The New York herald., 1871-03-18

the circumstances deem him q model OF persever.
ance. II was quite dark as we entered the town
upon our return, having made o circuit OF at least
| twenty miles.
| a. started OF alone one morning Tor walk along
the rver, and 1t being quite early was rewarded
| ny nove and picturesque sight, On bo;h sides OF
the stream were women squatting close TO the edge
Of Oh the water, with clothing laid on round stones
| nsamnerlng nan away upon them with broad PADDLES
Inis being their barbarous method Of washing My
appearance rather startled them, and could hear
tain point up the stream the washing ceased, and
ABOVE, apove lnat there We're numbers Of men, women and
Bile kind OF vessels with water for drinking pur-
poses. ~ Is mus carried around through the town
on orce cohaeys ana tne heads OF women, and sod the
Leaving the river struck into the chappara
,,no Waicn a mnea tne banks and wandered for some
tine ann narrow shaded walks across which va.
rous brilliantly plumaged BIRDS were fitting, max.
ing musical the atmosphere around. Among them
i noticed TWO or three varieties oil nummpg birds
who would pose themselves for an instant and then
dart away like lightning. The cool morning air
! turned homeward with a keen appetite. AS /
passed the washerwomen attempted TO converse
mongrel language accompanied by signs, but The
result was not particularly satisfactory ana j re-
| linguist was not success
A STATE DINNER.
General BaeZ invited our overland pariy. together
with General Sigei TO take breakfast with him one
morning, which, however, was more OF a dinner
tnan breakfast we accordingly went to his re-
sldence about eleven A. NJ, and found everything
III readiness for the entertainment. lis residence IS
no better IN character than any other In the town,
and IN fact appeared unusually dlapidated.
number OF digEtares were present to grace the oc-
casion, among whom were generals, alcaldds ana
others OF nigh rank. The meal was well served aud
well cooked consisting of the following courses:-
FIRST trine OF oognac; second, vermlcel soup;
pork ana Massachusetts potatoes; nth, roast
chlcKen lettuce and native potatoes; sixth. roast
turkey win water crosses and pepper grass;
cabbage dressed pl
eighth, omelet with hashed ham; ninth, Spanish
iigs and Iaislns; tenth, pine apples and
oranges; eleventh, bananas and cantelopes about
loot long; twelfth coffee and cigars thirteenth,
dominican brandy. which was dlstlllation Of chain
the meal we had various kinds Of French ana Span
ish wines and the whole affair was Of the most DIS
having been five hours, which was as good as could
be expected from this country. Various speeches
u as well as oh'r aars o ensned On
terest. We entered into minute explanations re-
garding the way IN which our government affairs
were conducted detailed the nature or our school
system and endeavored to impress upon them that
we considered it one of the most important con-
comltants OF true republican government Great
interest was manifested by the company, who
seemed anxious to lad out as much as possible OF
our internal affairs and expressed their greatest en-
tnusiasm III favor OF annexation. one general
stated that from this Time he wanted to be con.
sidered under the orders OF the American govern
ment. and desired TO have the nag Immediately
raised. Everything passed OF satisfactorily, and
was quite success culinariiy.
DUSKY VISITORS,
Since our arrival at this place the news has snread
over tne surrounding country Ike wlldirc and the
come TO raise the American flag without DELAY and
complete annexation. We have received crowds OF
them daily, they having donned their best clothing
and n0cKed 10 our quarters with eager haste greet.
ing us with smiling faces, Outstretched hands and
spond as heartily as the annoying circumstances viii
permit. AS, however, these spontaneous expressions
their true feelings and their unanimous desire for
anneXatlon, we consider thcm OF too much I'M
80 TO Se Wness tSe highly amusing
personal decorations preparatory to visiting us,
every variety OF costume being produced for the
OCCASION AS general thing, however they are
neat and clean, ana whether their clothing consists
OF pantaoons only. or whether they sport the addi-
l0na toggery oi coat, hat and Shoes their demeanor
Is as respectful and graceful as can be imagined.
Ihey are shaded in complexion from almost white
muiatto AS is usual, there Is premium upon en the
lighter shades In the social circle they forming
sort OF an arstocracy which, however, is entirely
social and not political. Some OF the females have
remarkably fine features, showing large infusion
OF spanish blood, which particularly develops Itself
In their Gark piercing eyes and graceful carriage.
have seen some OF these women carry immense
burdens upon their heads, balancing kegs of water
and other articles without the assistance OF their
hands. Whenever circumstances Will permit
they dress the nseyes with taste, and are as modest
and as fond Of the usual female adornments OF
Jewelry, &C.. as you will lind anywhere The men
are mostly well formed 1.-THE and active, ana invari
trious and labor cheerfully from morning tin night,
and ] have little doubt that If the men were not
so cOnllnualy interrupted by alarms and inyaStOnS
that they also would be good laborers.
rms country would be paradise for the strong
minded women. and wonder that SEINE of them do
not emigrate here; for usually the marriage rites
consist OF sort OF mutual agreement to 1--we
together until either party Is dissatisfied when they
can amlcably become unmarried the woman taking
possession OF all the personal property, which here
comprises almost everything, as very lew have any
real estate This system appears 10 work very wei
II one may judge from the few signs OF discomfort
manifested on either side. The father Is compelled
10 take care OF his children, however under the
Code Napoleon, which Is the law OF the land and ls
strictly enforced. They require but little care for
as soon as they can crawl they 1or themselves
ana 1ght their own way pretty much thereafter.
They run entirely naked until they six or eight
years Old ana are then provided with
some slight garment more TO indicate their age ap-
pdrcntly, than to protect them from the weather
required to enter the army, where they continue
the remainder OF their lives When there is
no actual necessity for their immediate presence
they are allowed TO cultivate the soil or attend
to any other avocatlon by which they can pro.
vide for their physical wants. Their army pay
Is loaf OF bread OF three plantans and q
pound OF meat day when II can be procuredj
during their actual service in the field; and unless
they can be blessed with enough peace to earn their
clothing by their labor they must 60 Naked as the
government does not propose to cothe them or pay
them any money. AZ there Is generally little war.
fare on band, they not very well Clad Can 1t be
presumed therefore, that with such prospects before
them this people should make much progress in
agricultural or other pursuits Give them stability
III tnelr government permanent peace and some en-
cOuragenlcnt and instruction. and believe they
would become prosperous and Industrious