The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-29
EXPERIENCES IN MEXICO.

I
the Scenery-Mexican ''Tanglefoot.'
SAN ANTONIO RANCH, Mexico, May 20.
Especial. This point is 100 miles north
of Sierra Mazda, and l made it on horse
| back through deep canons and devious,
winding valleys. 1t was much like going
| around Robin Hoods barn to get In at
the front door, butm accident policy had
just expired and | was carrying my own
insurance, and having no desire to "bust"
the company, left the giddy peaks for
the less dangerous lowlands.
In travelling one always has to make
calculations to reach grass and water, no
matter how long the ride may be. The
country is infested with untold species of
the prickly pear, in every con-
ceivable shape and form. Every
bush and shrub is full of thorns. Leather
pants, or leggins, have to be worn. or you
are soon journeying in rags. Why this
country has been so afflicted ! cannot tell,
unless it is to keep out the Quingoes
(Americansl, or to punish a "stiff-necked
and perverse people" We never hear
miles or feet used here. II it always
leagues, and varas. The natives have no
idea of distances. If you inquire how far
to given place they will examine your
horse. Ii a good one, will say "a very
little piece; If a poor traveller, tits a long
ways, no odds whether it's five or fifty
miles. No measurements of even we'll
beaten highways have ever been made,
and they simply judge blythe time it takes
to ride from one place 10 another. The
Mexicans are a nation OF smokers.
/ do not remember to have ever seen one
smoke pipe, and never a cigar unless
given them. They smoke black tobacco
made into cigarettes. with corn-husks as
wrappers. Everybody INDUCES. l have
often heard gentlemen 90 into ecstasies
over the charming manners of some
beautiful senOrita IN the way she manip-
ulated cigarette, but have never felt
any tender emotions for the "divine be-
ing" wreathed in clouds OF smoke.
This is mainly cattle ranch, situated
on the very outskirts OF what may be
called civilization, and it does not look
much like a camp-meeting ground either,
as the managers never step from their
doors without brace of revolvers on or
carbine in hand.
The buildings are very extensive and
the outer walls are all solid and the guard
houses at each corner bear the evidence
of many conflict with 10, the poor
Indian" The location is most pictur-
esque. A deep canon runs back and In
dian and robbers caves are hard by,
wherein they painted heads, hands, eagles,
sun-gods and implements of war, while
the mountains rise up on either side
thousands of feet and lean over with
threatened destruction. Columns stand
out on the face of these mountains hun
dreds OF feet high, as if cut there by
human hands, while balancing rocks and
peaks fantastic-ike giants all-stand
round in solemn, awful silence. have
wandered through the Garden of the
Gods in Colorado, but [ saw there
nothing more wonderful or awe-inspiring
than here. The early Jesuits were here,
and close by q spring a tower with port
holes was built up by them. l crawled the
steep rock and into the little round tower
and took many good aim at the incom-
ing red man, but finally retired thankful
that was not there hundred years ago.
From sotOl, a species OF the cactus, they
distii a very bad quality OF ''tangleioot.
! attended a BALL dance) one night. by
special invitation. 1t was given in a long
room. and barrels OF whisky occupied
one side, and there was no occasion to go
out and see a friend" An accordion and
harp furnished the music. No one called.
Every couple chad it down" for them
selves. Young men waved their sombre-
ros, and usually carried a bottle in their
side pockets. \ policeman kept order,
but we wore our knives and pistols, all
the samoan ounce of prevention, etc.
With thousands of cattle on the range, not
a drop OF milk or particle of butter could
be had. The latter article is seldom, if
ever, seen. 1t is claimed there is some |
thing in the climate that prevents making
it, but l think some good Yankee butter |
maker would soon overcome all climatic
difficulties.
From this point we have journeyed far
and near, and much of the mountain seem
cry was grand, gloomy, andpeculiar." In
our rounds we visited unfrequented To-
calities, scaled many a lofty mountain,
stood over yawning chasms, and explored
deep dark caverns around which cling
stories, frightful beyond description. We
have slept on battle-felds in the dry beds
of streams, in the rain, on barren rocks,
in deserted cold adobe houses, in deep
canons, were scared up by the whoop of
the Indians, and the charge of the high
waymen; heard the lions roar, the pam
theirs growl held the wild boar at bay,
and knew what it was to be weary, hun
CRY, and thirsty, but found in it all a
weird, strange, and delightful fascination.
Such is life roughing il on the frontiers
in Mexico. Food pleasant enough for
memory to feed upon, but | have little de-
sire to repeat the experience.
ASA HEARTS