some friends who were encamped half a mile distant. He lost his way in returning, and wandered about for several hours. The Judge, with great presence of mind, kept the fire up, and he found us at last.

The heat from nine to two is pretty severe; but in Texas there is generally a cool sea-breeze, which nakes it bearable.

and

21st April (Tuesday).—We started at 5 A. M., reached a hamlet called "Casa Blanca" at 6. We procured a kid, some Indian corn, and two fowls in this neighborhood.

We had now quitted the flat country, and entered an undulating or "rolling" country, full of live oaks of very respectable size, and we had also got out of the mud.

Mr. Sargent and the Judge got drunk again about 8 A. M., which, however, had a beneficial effect upon the speed. We descended the hills at a terrific pace -or, as Mr. Sargent expressed it, "Going like h-Ul a-beating tan bark."

We "nooned it" at a small creek; and after unhitching, Mr. Sargent and the Judge had a row with one another, after which Mr. Sargent killed and cooked the goat, using my knife for these operations. With all his faults he certainly is a capital butcher, cook, and mule-driver. He takes great care of his animals, and is careful to inform us that the increased

pace we have been going at is not attributable to gin.

He was very complimentary to me, because I acted as assistant cook and butcher.

Mr. Ward's party passed us about 1 P. M. The front wheels of his buggy having now smashed, it is hitched in rear of one of the wagons.

We made a pretty good afternoon's drive through a wood of post oaks, where we saw another rattlesnake, which we tried to shoot.

We halted at Spring creek at 6.30 P. M.; water rather brackish, and no grass for the mules.

The Judge gave us some of his experiences as a filibuster. He declares that a well-cooked polecat is as good to eat as a pig, and that stewed rattlesnake is not so bad as might be supposed. The Texans call the Mexicans "greasers," the latter retort by the name "gringo."

We are now living luxuriously upon eggs and goat's flesh; and I think we have made about thirtytwo miles to-day.

22d April (Wednesday).-We got under weigh at 5 A. M., the mules looking rather mean for want of grass. At 8 A. M. we reached the Nueces river, the banks of which are very steep, and are bordered with a beautiful belt of live-oak trees, covered with mustang

grapes.

On the other side of the Nueces is "Oakville,” a miserable settlement, consisting of about twenty wooden huts. We bought some butter there, and caught up Ward's wagons. The women at Oakville were most anxious to buy snuff. It appears that the Texan females are in the habit of dipping snuffwhich means, putting it into their mouths instead of their noses. They rub it against their teeth with a blunted stick.

We reached grass about 10 A. M., and "nooned it," the weather being very trying-very sultry, without sun or wind.

We hitched in at 1.15-Ward's wagons in our front, and a Frenchman's four-horse team in our rear. At 4 P. M. we reached the "Weedy," a creek which, to our sorrow, was perfectly dry. We drove on till 7 P. M., and halted at some good grass. There being a report of water in the neighborhood, Mr. Sargent, the Judge, Ward, and the Frenchman, started to explore; and when, at length, they did discover a wretched little mud-hole, it appears that a desperate conflict for the water ensued, for the Judge returned to us a mass of mud, and presenting a very crestfallen appearance. Shortly after, Mr. Sargent appeared, in such a bad humor that he declined to cook, to eat, to drink, or do any thing but swear vehemently.

Deprived by this contretemps of our goat's flesh, we had recourse to an old ham and very stale bread.

claimed that Mr. Sargent had come in sight of Grey's

ranci

After buying some eggs and Indian corn there, we crosse. the deep bed of the river San Antonio. Its hanks are very steep and picturesque.

T: halted immediately beyond, to allow the mules 7. r an hour. A woman was murdered at a some time ago, and five bad characters 1 death at San Antonio by the vigilance

T

Selar river at 11, and nooned it

2 de Juare finished the gin; and her irink, entertained us with

dus resment of a refractory

s Bent, must have

vers Havas much disgusted at

IT MAN IN SW. Sargent, being • Tiri, she in fe San Anto

Imer's intel at 3 P.M.,

bestur inver having filled his

is one red horses bowl"

Telo he saves my be as a general

like thas of Mr Surgent)

Sosa Northerner by

then ing which is nearly Ini, 1963.

Later in the day I walked through the streets with M'Carthy to his store, which is a very large building, but now desolate, every thing having been sold off. He was of course greeted by his numerous friends, and among others I saw a negro come up to him, shake hands, and welcome him back.

I was introduced to Colonel Duff's brother, who is also a very good-looking man; but he has not thrown off his British nationality and become a "citi

zen."

The distance from Brownsville to San Antonio is 330 miles, and we have been 11 days and 4 hours en route.

25th April (Saturday).-San Antonio is prettily situated on both banks of the river of the same name. It should contain about 10,000 inhabitants, and is the largest place in Texas, except Galveston.

The houses are well built of stone, and they are generally only one or two stories high. All have verandas in front.

Before the war San Antonio was very prosperous, and rapidly increasing in size; but trade is now almost at a complete stand-still. All the male population under forty are in the military service, and many necessary articles are at famine prices. Coffee costs $7 a pound.

Menger's hotel is a large and imposing edifice, but