The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-25
OUR NEIGHBOR REPUBLIC.

A Visit to Historical Scenes and Places in Mexico-
The Ruined Palace Of Cortez and the Nov
deserted but Once.famed Gardens of Iaborde-
Model Hacienda. Etc.
Correspondence Of the Courier Journal.1
CRY OF MEXICO, Sept. IA.
We took diligence at A. M, . few morning
Gnce, for Cuernavaca, in company with Mrs
Foster, the agree able wife Of the United State
Hinister, DIR. J. A. Skilton. the United State
Consul General, and the Rev. Mr.. Drees. TIL,
weather was delightful, and as the road, afte
passing Tialpan, sscends nearly 1000 feet, we hat
most excellent views of the beautiful Wiley O
Aexlco with its lakes, villages, and great city
below rs, and the numerous extinct volcanoes
clustered around its southern extremity. Having
reached the summit of the mountain-pass al
IL duardia, where scarcely any vegetation save
heavy growth Of coarse, long grass is seen, the
peaks OF the mountains, and then rapidly des
Cends toward the southwest through q gloomy
forest of tall pines. At the commencement OF the
descent stands the Cruz del Marquez, q large,
9red years ago to mark the northern limits of the
immense territory, extending more than 500 miles
toward the south, granted by the Spanish crown
70 Cortez, Is Marquis Of the Valley: A few miles
vsca, several thousand feet below, burst sudden
y upon our view, and elected from every men,
Der OF tho party an exclamation of delight.
SPLENDID SIGHT IT WAS;
ena - the atmosphere was without cloud, the
entire scene in all its wondrous combination of
beauty and sublimity was embraced at single
glance. Away down. almost at our very feet. Law
tho little village Of Cuernavaca, apparently no
srger than group OF toy houses, and SO oom.
plotey concealed by the tropical foliage by which
4 is interspersed that no single object. except
the tower OF the old church and the narrow line
a yellow road as it emerged upon the plain be-
yond could Be distinctly defined. Upon either
side, tal, dark mountains, over the tops of which.
upon the left, Popocatapetl and fztacclhuati
showed their snow-white heads, formed screen
which shut out the eastern and the western sky.
wnne, directly in front, there was nothing to in
stretch of green valley and surmounting in the
distance one elevation after another, our eyes
rested upon the dim, misty peaks which look ont
upon the Pacific Ocean: Surely the old conquis-
saoor, when ne selected this as his future home,
picturesque - well as the profitable
bounding down the rocky road, the two ladies'
having been lashed to their seat upon the top Of
she diligence TO prevent them from being thrown
who were struggling to keep out Of the way of
tho wheels, we entered the town Of Cuernavaca |
about two and half hours after We first beheld |
1t from the mountains above.
A the height Of the mountain pass ia more
than 5000 feet above the sea, its temperature is
more Or less wintry, even at this seaion of the
year. and ito flora strictly alpine. The elevation
"a the valley is only about 1000 feet; its usual
u6Rfe66
round, ana its vegetation purely tropical. The
rapid change from the former to the latter was
NO less agreeable than striking.
Along the whole extent Of the road we did not
of droves Of mules and long lines Of Indian men
ana women going and coming, and all laden with
articles of traffic between Mexico and the tie,,,n
oahe'1e large part Of the tropical fruit sugar
= thus transported over this route, in return for
which she furnishes merchandise Of nearly Iii
flour, and the like.
THE ANCIENT PALACE OF coRTEz. II
After satisfying our Appetites with what WAS {
'alled . breakfast, although the day was nearly !
gone, We paid visit to the palace built by Cor
ez, and occupied by him as . residence after he
Vas superseded in the government by commls. ,
asa sent out from Spain: 1t is . large. :
lour feet in thickness, composed of :
ough blocks Of porous stone cemented and .
'tuccoed without and within. The roof, or dzotea
2 It is called, is Of burn brick, arched and :
The whole is in an excellent state Of =
and is now used as barracks and .
or municipal Sffces. The Mayor of the town '
accompanied US through the halls and also upon :
AZ roof whence we had splendid view of the :
alley Nnd surrounding mountains, including !,
vsr.present grand old Popocatapetl and athee .
lecIng woman" Extraordinarily. !.
The next day we visited tho fine old church a
nit by Cortez upon an eminence overlooking .
ae town, ana presented by him to the Francis ~
IN. III
side from its historical association, is remark.
bio only for the hatness of the great arches
hich span the nave, and which We were assured
y the Mayor, were constructed upon mounds Of f
nth instead Of the framework usually employed q
such cases. in
We next proceeded to the once noted but now @
eglected garden Of Laborde, ma ed after the E
iginal owner, who planned, planted and dec sc
'ated il, at an immense expense, more than CT
undred years ago. 1t occupies several acres m
pom the beginning Of long slope which leads to u
deep barranca upon the southern side of the ID
wn, and contains two large artificial lakes Dor. th
RED upon the upper side BY elegant terraces, y
70 fountains and various decorations in stone fa
me OF which are materially injured, notwith.
snding they are al more or less svergrown with
BEDS and vines Of various kinds The grounds Re-
'0und in fine fruit trees, such as mango. "a int
e. msmmea, orange, lemon avocata guava no
d banana; and the fower-beds were evl- Re
ntly once covered with rare and beautiful in
lnts, some Of which, especially the Ro
'es. arc sil in aourishing condition, r,