The Texas Republican

[From the N. O. Picayune.]

LETTER FROM MR. DURIVAGE

Monterey, April 5, 1849.

When I last bid adieu to the cloud-capped summits of the Sierras in these parts I deemed it a final one, but destiny has led me to look upon them once again—and most magnificent mountains they are to gaze upon, presenting the most picturesque and grand appearance to the eye at all times. We arrived here yesterday in four days from Mier, and will leave to-morrow for Saltillo. Cholera still prevails to a considerable extent—an average of twenty deaths a day is a safe estimate of the state of the disorder. The deaths are mostly confined to Mexicans, but several Americans have died from the disease. There is a small assortment of the grand army of Mexico garrisoning the city at present—I should think about two hundred. There has been something like six hundred, but two detachments have been sent off lately, one to San Luis and the other in another direction. This post is under the command of a general who has almost as many officers under him as men. The privates are the dirtiest, seediest, and most ill-conditioned knaves I ever beheld, infinitely worse in appearance than Falstaff's followers ever could have been.

There are quite a number of Americans here, toward whom the Mexicans are very well disposed; in fact, throughout the entire length of this line the Americans are respected if they are respectable. It affords me pleasure to say that there have been no complaints made against emigrants passing along this route to California. They have behaved themselves and respected the Mexicans, and have consequently left a most favorable impression wherever they have passed.

As it may prove of use to parties who may hereafter come this route, I will furnish some items respecting the various camping grounds and the practicability of obtaining food for man and beast.

After leaving Mier, the first available place for a camp is Chinaerone, thirty leagues, or fifteen miles, where good water can be obtained. At present, owing to the excessive drought which has prevailed for quite a length of time, there is not sufficient grass for any considerable number of animals and being no rancho at the place fodder is not to be had. From Chinaerone it is fifteen miles to Punta Aguda, once quite a rancho, but now a wreck of its former self, thanks to los voluntarios, who destroyed nearly every house in the place. Corn can be procured there and dry cornstalks, and in a short time green barley and young cornstalks. In the way of edibles for man's consumption, nothing but eggs, a few slivers of dried beef, and miserable coffee, is the best to be had. It would not do for a party larger than three or four to depend upon one establishment, as their stock of everything is extremely limited. They are all very accommodating and willing to give you the very best they have in the shop, charging two bits a meal. Corn brings readily from six bits—seventy-five cents—to one dollar per bushel.

From Punta Aguda to Cerralvo is fifteen miles, where parties can find abundance of accommodation. Corn, however, is not readily obtained, as there are but few places where it is kept for sale. On account of the jornada of the next day, which is rather hard upon the animals, owing to the scarcity of water, it is best to push on to a place called the Old Ranche, six miles farther on, where there is a pool of water fit for animals, and about one-quarter of a mile off is a very fine spring of excellent water. Kids, to any extent, can be purchased for half a dollar a piece. Corn and dry grass can also be obtained at the usual rates. There is now but one occupied house at this point, the settlement having been destroyed during the war, as well as two others in the neighborhood. From this point you can readily make Marin in a day's march although the road is somewhat mountainous; but it is better to push a little at this point, and if necessary, remain a day at Marin to recruit, than to stop either at Papagallo or Ramos.

The former place is about seventeen miles from the old ranche and a trifle more than half way to Marin. There is a good spring of water there now, and usually a stream running at the foot of the hill. A few miserable jacales occupied by peons only, who have nothing to depend upon but beans and tortillas, are all that the most discriminating eye can discover. A halt of a few hours there or less is quite as much as a person cares to make. Ramos, eight miles farther on, which was almost entirely destroyed during the war and completely abandoned, has been re-occupied since the treaty of peace and the fields in the vicinity cultivated.

Five miles further on is Marin, and its clean appearance, the neat, white lime-stone houses, the well kept corrals, and last, not least, the deep wells in the yard, giving token of good water at the bottom, a most welcome article to the thirsty traveller, and general comfort, everything in Marin is at your disposition; but if you do not make your bargain beforehand, you will find when calling at the captain's office to settle, that Mexicans understand how to 'gouge,' to use plain Yankee phrase, if nothing else. From Marin the distance to this place is twenty-five miles, and a very good, level road. There are several ranchos on the route and plenty of good water. I am surprised that the suburbs of Monterey have not been built up, and the partially destroyed houses in many of the streets in the city proper have not been repaired or occupied.

You are aware that this is Holy Week, and from to-day at 12 o'clock, until Saturday, all shops will be shut up, no persons permitted to ride about the town, and all the inhabitants compelled to remain as closely housed as possible. Usually they have a large procession on the 5th and 6th of April; but this year, on account of the cholera, the religious services will be confined to the church. I witnessed a most amusing scene last evening in front of a meat shop, which reminded me strongly of Herr Duesbach feeding his lions, save that the vendor of meat was in a perfect cage and his lions outside. In front of a small seven by nine feet shop, with a grated window occupying half the front, were collected about twenty individuals, men, women and children, all clamoring for meat, and chinking their money on tin plates. Behind the grating stood the dispenser of carne, with naked breast and arms besmeared with blood. The coadjutors of Oliver Twist never clamored as loud for their ration of soup, as did those Mexicans last night, each one trying to get the choicest morceau, as do the applicants at the box office of a theatre, to get the last front seat in the house.

In our country we have carrier pigeons, and our dogs are taught to fetch and carry, but until to-day I never saw a regular carrier dog. This morning a shaggy looking dog of small size, a cross of the pointer and terrier, came trotting into the meson where I am stopping, with a letter tied about his neck. He had come in from a ranche four or five miles distant, and I am informed that he is constantly in the habit of transporting letters back and forth, and that it was only necessary to start him off to ensure the safe and speedy delivery of the letter. This is one peg higher than the pony express, but as it will be impossible for me to arrange a dog express between this point and the Brazos, I shall trust to the Mexican mail. I will write again from Saltillo.

JED.

I curse the hour we were married,' exclaimed an enraged husband to his better half.

To which she mildly replied, 'Don't, my dear, for that is the only happy hour we have seen.'