CROSSING OF THE RIO FOLLON.

355 tance brought us to the Lemon or Follon river again, which we immediately forded, and the infantry got another wetting, which was not very agreeable to them, for it was too early in the day. It was amusing to look back from the bank opposite, and see them crossing, and hear their noise and yells. We thought the Illinoisans made noise and fun enough about such fordings, but the Tennesseeans made the more. The water run off from all when they got over; but they did not mind the wetting, save some who did not succeed in keeping their crackers dry.-There was a rancho on the top of the hill, with many houses.

While on this bank, one of the beef contractors, named Bigelow, found occasion to go back to the rancho mentioned yesterday, twelve miles, to see about the supply of beef to be furnished to Quitman's Brigade, for the night. He was warned not to do it; but mounting his splendid horse, he determined to try it, and away he went.* After crossing the

the mountains were

Follon, the hills became lower, and but just discernible on the distant horizon in the rear. We now passed over a beautiful country of hills and rolling plains, with more grass than we had before seen in several weeks; groves of the palm tree were here and there, scattered over the face of the country.

About three, P. M., after a pleasant march of twenty-two miles, we encamped on the banks of a pretty brook, and the general selecting his quarters under the foliage of a large rose-wood tree, surrounded by others of thick shade, Col. Abercrombie appointed to us our place about fifty yards from him, under a shade equally pleasant, and so thick that we

He passed the wagon train, not yet all crossed, then the rear guard.-Before he got to the encampment just left, a party of Mexican cavalry filed into the road before him. He was about to turn back, when he saw a large number behind him;-then putting spurs to his noble horse, he broke through the front line, and, amid the volley fired at him, received but one ball, which shattered his right leg below the knee; but he kept his seat, while they pursued him back over the Follon, and by the rancho spoken of, until he came in view of part of Capt. Haynes' company, under Lieut. Chamblis, the advance guard of Quitman's division. He was immediately placed in the hospital wagon, and made the rest of the march in that way, being unable to walk for many weeks afterward.

concluded not to put up our tents, but to fix our sleepingplaces in this, a sort of natural arbor.

The general's marquees were soon up, and we sat down to conversation, having nothing else to do, save to watch the long lines of cavalry and infantry, followed by the wagon train, that were coming down over the beautiful hills, towards the camp, as they continually arrived.-Col. Abercrombie came down to us, and asked if any one would cut down a large palm tree that stood near, a most majestic object; to oblige him, as he wished to examine the "cabbage," or tender wrapping of the buts of the leaves, at the top of the trunk, which cabbage the Mexicans here eat, and pronounce it fine. A dozen men instantly offered to serve the colonel, (who, having the power to command, chose, rather, in such a case, to request), and procuring axes, the noble tree was soon stretched on the ground. Its leaves were taken off from the body, and the top of this cut off. After stripping the tough outside covering off, the inside was found white and tender, and somewhat like a cabbage; this, however, was small, not weighing more than seven or eight pounds. (We afterwards found these "cabbages" to sell in the markets of Tampico, and other places). For the appearance of this tree, and those of others which have been mentioned as growing about here, see the plate opposite, where it is numbered 2.

The others, 1, 3, 4, 5, have been mentioned before, in this work. This palm is connected with one of the religious ceremonies of this people, which we will mention. The tree is called, by the Mexicans, in distinction from all others of the palm kind, la palma bendita, or the blessed palm.(Valencia, our Mexican guide, said that this was the tree

* This plate, showing most accurately the appearance of the plants and trees, was drawn upon the ground by the author. A single cavalry soldier was placed in the foreground, to show, by comparison, the height of the trees; and the engraver was directed to copy these in every line, and moreover, to place a small scouting party in the back ground. To the author's surprise, when the picture was completed, he found that the engraver had put in the scouting party, but had set them all to cooking; and the volumes of smoke inserted, would convey the idea that the scouts were more anxious for their dinner, than to catch the enemy, that, at this place, were hanging so thickly around us. This is wrong; and the reader will therefore, in imagination, put out the

whose branches were broken off and strewed in the way of our Saviour, in his entry into Jerusalem, mentioned by the evangelists, and that, on this account, it was since prized by Christians. This may be the opinion (St. John, chap. 12, verse 13,) taught them by the priests, and probably is.-It was the only reason that the author received, for the custom of blessing the leaves, on Palm Sunday).-Palm Sunday is a festival kept by all the population of Mexico. It comes on, or near the 27th of March, of each year.-On that day, the people, in their holiday dresses, take bunches of the large leaves of this tree, and carry them to the priests, who, in a formal and solemn manner, bless them, thus making them sacred. They are then taken home, torn up into strips, and plaited in numberless beautiful forms; every one has a cross worked in it, trimmed with ornaments of ribbon, &c., and sent as presents. They are from friend to friend, from young to old, and the contrary, and especially passed between the young of both sexes, as sacred tokens of love. Crosses are plaited, of the same material, and put up over the windows and doors of each house, and these so guarded, cannot be entered by Satan, or any of his evil spirits.-On this day is general rejoicing, and all are made holy. The priests, in the morning, consecrate, in every church, a large quantity of holy water, called agua bendita, which is sent for by all persons, drank, and used for sickness-with great success, they say. No wonder, then, that the Mexicans regard la palma bendita with attachment, and call it "blessed."

The whole of this tree is not shown in the picture, but enough is visible to show its form and beauty. A diamond shaped net-work, composed of the buts of the older leaves, which have fallen off, sometimes descends half way down

engraver's fire, and place the party in a position of vigilance.-The soldier in front, also, though dressed correctly, and having all right about him, has, by the engraver's command, taken off his sword and cartridge box, and set them up against that sun palm, together with his gun, which, too, the engraver has cut, not a carbine, but rather a fowling piece. This is incorrect: for no scout was caught in this fix. His holsters are right, but his sword should be upon his side, and his carbine slung to his shoulder, or in his hand, ready to act in an instant.-Owing to these mistakes, the author would not have inserted this picture, but for the remarkable correctness of the trees and plants which it represents, and the excellent workmanship of the whole cut.