Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-10-07
(Correspondence Of the Beacon.l
PALxsrzs.. Texas I
Sept. 90, 1875. /

Messrs Editcvs:-As most al your
readers are unfamiliar with this part oe
our country, some observations OK q
wanderer from old Sc. Mary's may pees
haps interest them. But 40 mv adops
ted home. PAIestine. and surrounding
country % nearly resembles in very
many wars Leonars1town. and your
own county. WIN only with this passing
notice wander on to the far South sestS
IN the neighborhcod Of the Rio Gronde,
among the Cattle Kings" and "Hut-
ton 1EiiE0uo7rvoas ~ 1ieos1o 81 -
ehero is fraught with dangerous and
exciting adventures, having been &C.
customed from infancy to make 'shead
quarters in the saddle" dash with light<
nirg speed through thorny bush and
priekly pear. throw the lariat and hans
die the widest steer with as much ease
as an ordinary man would a sucking.
The habitations Of these Ranchemeu
are usually constructed of poles set up
right in the ground for walls, and .
thatched roof, the surface of the ground
is their floor and upon this they sit, eat
and sleep, vet they seem contentcd and
happy as tis said any people must bo
who are so little governed and 80 un.
concerned about political affairs.
One noticeable trait is their readiness
to render to a stranger any kindly oficc
within their power. They only come
plain, and justly too. of high TAXATION
without protection, that their stock 10
stolen by Mexicans and Indians from
d. n.,.IN uio.~ Y.
times provoke retaliation and it be-
comes two handed game, equally in
teresting and profitable no doubt to
both parties. North of the Nueces
River we enter the sheep raising region,
where may be seen flocks offrom thirty
to fifty thousand, moving softly, like
snowy clouds, over the green carpet in
detached bodies of two or three Thousand.
each in charge Of single Mexican
shepherd, afoot, who never quits his
post day or night, sometimes for many
months, his only shelter being the mes
quite or cactus, and with his wallet Of
dried beef on his shoulder he strolls
from point to point, solacing himself
with his cigarito and his song. For
this service the shepherd gets about
fifteen dollars per month and q frugal
supply of rations. But even this poor
fellow is not without his troubles, for
he sometimes meets deadly enemy
in the Cowboy" who is always noun
ted and well armed and despises the
shepherd for his humber station, and
begrudges the blades Of grass so smooth
ly cropped by the sheep. The focks
increase very rapidly, disease among
them being almost unknown, Weld two
coats per annuin, and the wool is al
ways clean. Large fortunes have been
and can still be made at this business
with very small capital to begin with
Picked ewes can be bought in Mexico for
sl.5O and sl75 per head. Two crosses
only are necessary. first with the largest
size Mexican Merino for frame, then
with any you please for fleece, and you
have thrifty profitable animal.
The agriculturist has not vet found
his way TO this part Of Texas, although
soil is exceedingly fertile. have seen
excellent corn raised here which had
received but one rain and had been cul-
tivated with the prong OF tree for =
plowshare. The numerous streams af.;
ford sweet running water and abound
in excellent fish. The climate is re-
markably healthy, the south breeze COM
ing fresh from the Gulf renders the
evenings and nights truly delightful.
Those afflicted with pulmonic or mala-
rial disease can here find relief, and
even those who are in the decrepitude
of old age will become reiuvinated in .
wonderful degree. More anon.
PC.