The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-10

magnOas, Oleanders, and an Understandable variety
by leaving the road for short distance, superb
panoramic views or the bay and Its mountain
cradle could be obtained. We had been led TO be-
lieve that excursions of this sort were dangerous
from the greed and awlessness of the natives, but
We found them invariably polite and respectful
The costume of the few of the better classes
whom we saw was very striking. short embroid-
cred velvet jacket, broad sombrero, breeches OF
velveteen, q gay cOlOred serape thrown over one
shoulder shoes OF fancy leather. with immense
spurs, making musical clinking against long
sss asstt ecr sna se' e.. as o. Sss on
which he is riding, gives Mexican OF
this class highly picturesque appearance.
In company with one OF these gentlemen, whose
acquaintance we made on the road, we stopped to
rest at the rancho OF an old woman living in a
pearance would not alone have sutEced to entice
US into drinking the 'lquid fire" which she offered
under the name OF Dsezo0S. She proved, how
ever, to be
in spite OF her unpleasant surroundings and Me-
phistOphelian beverage. Our friend, who had been
been Of more actual service, had gone through
more dangers and shown more bravery, than any
tuated by purely patriotic motives. At his request
she exhibited with perceptble pride q portrait Of
General Alvarez, together with note from him, in
friend" and subscribes himself her respectful
servant" or course this inspired US with more re-
we were perhaps excusabie In not discovering .
Joan OF Arc In poor, ignorant Mexican half
breed.
THE FORT OF SAN DIEGO
which stands on rocky bluff just north OF the
town, Is q curious Old place, apparently tnterme-
Oiate in its architecture between feudal and mod
ern times-between the epoch OF battering rams
and crossbows and that OF gunpowder and breecn-
leaders. An avenue. shaded by noble banyan trees,
leads up to 1t from the town and makes beautiful
promenade, while the fort itself, with It's mOat and
causeway its escarps and embrasures It's bastions,
barbicans and banquettes; its venerable wallis
QrasS-QrOWl and SCARED OV time
than BY battle, and. above all, with the
unsurpassable landscape spread out below
its ramparts, is well worth visit While we were
at Acapulco the natives were unusually active in
fishing and collecting, having learned that there
Hassler, and we were beseiged from morning to
night with their filled with great variety Of
fishes, echini and moAusca. An amusing incident
occurred on the day OF our departure. A man
came on board about noon and announced himself as
PROFESSIONAL SNAKE CHARMER
He brought With hi him box containing tho
antidOte and making elaborate prepare.
opened the box. Professor Agassiz, who was pres
ent remarked Immediately that there was nothing
POISONOUS about that serpent, and that any one
could handle 1t with fmpunity. The wOudbe In
trepid performer was denying this vehementy
when another Of our party, who had not been pres
It was specimen for our collection, and seeing,
like the Professor Its harmless character picked 1t
up carelessly and began to examine it. The snake
charmer's performance proceeded no further; his
prestige had vanished, aud he packed up his case
and disappeared deiectedly over the side amid the
laughter Of his audience. previously so credulous
That afternoon august y we got under way and
steamed out OF the bay passing through the Boca
Chca, little channel leading to the northward.
For the next week we ran along enjoying beauti-
full weather, crossed the mouth OF the Gulf Of Call
fornia and met cool northerly winds. delightful
after the heat OF Acapulco, and on the morning OF
the 18th entered
- a.. ,. MAdDALENA BAY,
extremely large one, protected from the swell and
storms OF the ocean principally By Santa Margarita
Island, which closes the entrance. The hills
three hundred to Twelve - hundred sdE feet feet,
and are barren and desolase, supporting
S ansns or
drew the seine and collected along the beach near
the foot Of Mount Isabel with moderate success.
The next day We ran up towards the head Of the
bay Tor about nine miles, aud hove to opposite
oRcnrLLA CATERERS,
sending party ashore to obtain specimens while
dredging was conducted nom the vessel.
The settlement consisted OF two dwelling houses
Of which there were hundreds of Dales piled up
along the beach. There were a dozen or two men
Ssssa IN PAGING * 81 S i for @
which stop In for that purpose. 1t is taken to
Panama and across the Isthmus and thence to
the entire quantity gathered. Little or none is
sent TO the United States. The supply seems to be
sOa IL is from the slow
take long to exhaust 1t. The dye obtained from
the weed Is said to be beautiful permanent and in.
expensive The success Of the SEEMING party at
this place was remarkable. In two hauls OF the net
more than three barrels OF fish were obtained and
hundreds, for which we had no use, were carried
OF by the settlers or thrown back into the water.
In the afternoon we resumed our voyage, and ran
on for four days with pleasant weather, generally
In sight Of land. On Sunday, the 14th, we passed
the monument OF granite marking
THE BOUNDARY LINK BETWEEN MEXICO AND THE
and about four O'CLOCK came to anchor in the har
Dor OF San Diego, the first port for nearly nine
months where We found the American flag dying
people were Identical with our own, where we
could obtain our mail and transact our business
without innumer0ble delays and where the gen.
made us feel that we had actually reached
home again. The town OF San Diego Is now only
o. SHs to ITS
lance as the future terminus Of the Texas Pacific
Railroad. The near approach Of the time when the
OF the route must be commenced has thrown the
population into fever Of excitement and cxpecta-
ton. A great deal OF the land IN the vicinity Is
owned by men who have worked and waited
patiently for years In the belief that at some time
more or less remote the necessities OF our Asatc
commerce would demand another port ON the
Western coast and that the
RICH MINERAL AND AGRICULTURAL REGION
comprising Southern California, southern Nevada,
Arizona and New Mexico would require CONNER
cial centre somewhere in the 300 miles between
san Francisco and Mazatlan. The claims of san
Diego to occupy this position are undoubtedly pre-
eminent. The harbor Is one Of she finest and most
secure In the world and Will accommodate with
ease a neet OF 1000 ships. The surrounding coun-
try though suffering at the time OF our visit from the
effects OF a protracted drought, gave ample evi.
dences OF tsgreat fertility when once supplied by ir
rlgation or otherwise with the requisite moisture.
Tie climate is soft, mild, yet nvg0rating, and GER
tany one OF the best adapted In the world for
those having pulmonary affections, as IL is almost
uniform throughout the entire year and would in
v0lve no wearisome change OF residence or danger
Gus travelling from place to place. The site OF the
town Is an excellent one, the land soping sum-
ciently for purposes OF drainage but not SO much
as to necesstate grading. Altogether 1t is far from
Improbable that san Diego may become before
MANY years have passed
THE RIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO,
on this coast In size and commercial Importance
and whatever our expectations in the matter may
be wishes certainly that the little town and
Its kindly inhabitants may have all the success
which they deserve. Among the many pleasant ex-
curslons which were taken at this place OF the
m m tpres1inO a visit to the site