Year: 1859




cident at sea which has disabled her, for there has
been no commotion at sufficient to endanger her
SAFETY The absence of the letters and papers is very
greatly felt.


Mr.. McLane has written to Mr.. Allen, U. s. Consul
here, that Cobos is on the march to the Ishmus of
Tehuantepec with 1000 men, and that he (the Minis
ter has ordered, will order the Fulton or Water
Witch to this port just so soon as either Of the vessels
reach the gulf. She will be instructed to yield every
protection to American interests on this Isthmus.
Mr.. McLane is stopping for while at San Andreas
de Tuxtla, where he hopes to find healthy and
pleasant residence during the sicky season. when bis
public business will allow him to be absent from Vera
Cruz.


The Suchil came down the river yesterday with the
California mails and passengers on board, together
with few Of the Mexican dignitaries. Gen. Degoado
was among the latter number and il be had not been
pointed out to me, l should certainly never have
| known him. He does not look like great man, and
scarcely think he is but as it is not popular to
judge men by their personal appearance, shall not
express mine of Gen. Degollado, particularly since
have taken pains to give you my opinion Of his pub
lie actions. He has resigned his position as Com
| mander.inChef of the Army, and is now on his way
t. Vera Cruz to take his seat in the Cabinet Of Presi
dent Juarez Secretary of War. His successor, as
ColulHanueEiu-Culel ~ Ueueral AuaZua, man IRON
| the Northern States Of the Republic and one ac-
counted to be somewhat more energetic than Degol-
lado, though about as much Of military man. Zua-
is farmer, and therefore liable to commit many
faults, hut his second in command, Gen. Zaragossa it
is thought will assist the principal commander out of
any very embarrassing difficulty. You must excuse
me, but it is impossible to write about Mexican mill
tary political affairs, in sober strain for they
make such farce OF them that cannot put on
tragedy face. Degollado comes from Acapulco, but
brings no later news than what wrote you in my
other letter.


BY private parties, passengers across at the same
| time, understand that it is already becoming dan
gerous for Americans to go the Transit route
except in large parties, for the Church party is ac-
quiring such ascendency on the Pacific side, and is
so hostile to Americans, that is not safe if
he is caught away from the city of Tehuantepec,
from the companionshp of his countrymen. l be.
eve the to be true, and that it will not be long
before he same condition of alflrs will exist at this
place, when shall have to stay in town if we desire
to keep whole hides Matters are approaching crisis
here which must result in bloodshed and it will be
done private account if the Government does not
protect Us. The Water Witch may be enabled to
preserve the peace here but the foul outrage this
side Of the Isthmus will be resented by all the Amer
leans settled the line of transit from Suchil to
| Minatitan.


hear rumor prevalent that the Governors of
certain States just on the fence whether to
revolt from Juarez and declare themselves neutral or
whether still to adhere to the Liberal party. The
effect of a consummation of these rnmors would be
to deprive the Liberal party of considerable rev.
enue for the aforesaid Governors propose to seize
upon the Custom-House revenues and the national
| Tn bo1d af 4
difficulty is had. l hope the runor may prove un.
true but there is no relying upon Mexicans high or
low, and therefore is safe bond to engage for the
fidelity of any of them.


The rainy season has set in, in good earnest, and
the steamer suchil now ascends almost to the town
of Suchil almost every trip, which will shorten the
passage at least two days, and perhaps four, going
to Ventosa. She will be decided improvement for
the California passengers.


The new steamer Allegheny Belle, brought over by
the Coatzacoalcos the last trip has been nation.
allied in this country, and is now called the Nina.
titan. She made very favorable impression on her
trial trip, but unfortunately she broke her shaft and
is now useless until new one is brought down from
New Orleans
| There are many parties at present 'lying about
looseh in this section who anxious and waiting
| oPfS'''NJ
several rivers that have their rise in the mountains
that nesect this sthmus 1t is almost certain that
large deposits will ultimately be found somewhere
adjacent to the sources of the Uspenapa or Aloma-
logo rivers, for the Indians display comparatively
large quantities of crude gold occasionally when they
require any personal ornament. There are no Jew
eers in this place. but as you proceed into the in
terror they become quite common, and heavy gold
combs, earrings and necklaces articles of com.
mon wear with the lowest classes. 1t is no unfre-
qnent sight to meet woman bare-footed and half.
dressed with thirty dollar comb in her head, or
valuable pair of bracelets on her arms This jew
ery, they say, all comes from the interior and the
gold for its manufacture is furnished by the Indians
who will not reveal from whence they derive it,
Quite recently a Mexican came to this place to
trade who made his payments in virgin ore, just as
he would have done ten years ago IN California
He passed unnoced the first time, but subsequently
he again came to town. and this time with larger
quantities and in heavier qualities some of his pieces
weighing an ounce and many weighing more than
quarter of an ounce This led to suspicion that he
knew where there were valuable mines, and many
inquiries were made of him. but all to no effect for
he denied all knowledge of the source of such treas.
ures. AS last resort, believe the people at Acay-
ucam, about thirty miles from here, took it into
Iher neaus 10 Try tne lnqusltl0D upon hm, ana Tor
that purpose he arrested, put in Jail, and the
torture applied but for all knowledge of the truth
believe his judges still in the dark. He persist
emily refused to make any revelation. The Mexicans
say that he would forfeit his life to the Indians if he
told where the mines where. In this connection, it
is somewhat singular that these beautiful rivers have
not been explored and that we are still in darkness
as to where they originate what course they run.
Here is a field for adventure for some rowing party
that would be worth the trouble to go over, and of
twice the vane, commercially speaking, of all Arc
tic explorations. An engineer, connected with the
Jeckel surveying party, informs ME that in running
his lines across the mountains between this place
and Tehuantepec, he came across Indians who had
never seen white man in their lives who spoke no
language known to his party, and were absolute
"free'lovers,' living all together, and twenty or
thirty men and women sleeping in one bed, and &C
kuowledging community of wives and properties
In another place he passed through village where
the Indians had light hair fair complexion and blue
eyes, and yet another town where all the inhabitants
were lepers covered with the white spots OF that de-
tesatle plague. Such are a few of the human won.
.:.a Al: !