THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 1483 in the vallies beneath; in an instant, all the Empty Tanques were filled, and there is a supply of water for nearly a year to come- D 11 Luciano soon informed me that he intended to collect his scattered flocks immediately, and I could take the number he had offered; I shall wait untill he herds them, and take a. part of the amt he has offered say 150 or 200 head. I hope to start from here, by the 12 of Novr and be with you by the 15 th or 20 th of Decembr The mule project I am compelled to abandon, owing to their scarcity and dearness, $50 to $70 pr. pair is what is currently given by the Mexicans-I shall not take time to go and see D 11 Felipe, altho I a.m confident I could procure both mules and horses from him. I am tired of this Barren Mountainous Country, and wish to get back once more to S 11 Felipe after seeing a.s much of the Country as I have I shall know how to justly appreciate the fertility of our Texas soil- I wish you to have the lot refenced very strong or one of the back lots it will be necessary to keep the Manadas at home, untill we determine where to put them, and prepare pens for their recep- tion etc; I shall take in a sufficient number of Vaceros to attend to them: and I flatter myself that in a short time we shall have a snug little Rancho-then you or myself (or both of us) must get a wife and forget the cares and perplexities of the world, in the pleasures to be found in a. Pastoral life. During my short stay among these mountains, I have cea.sed to wonder why so many persons labour under (what is called) the Blue De'IJU8, Horrors Hippo, or what- ever else you may please to call those fits of Apathy we find attending most persons at certain times, in a greater or less degre&-and which is a complaint you are riot altogether clear of-but I sincerely hope that since I have left home you have not been visited by a single symtom; for God knows I have been tormented enough for us both. I have lived the Solitary, ever since I have been here. D 11 Luciano is a perfect hermit-since his return from Bexar he has resided at his Ra;ncho de la Lua: rarely ha.s communication with any one, except his Vaceros Comes to Town to Hug bis Frigofia, once a month. Spends good part of his time Sleeping and eating. he says he has procured his discharge from the Army and hence- forward he intends to live (Una Vida so~egada) I tell him we wish to live a Ranchero's life but attended wit'n a. litfle more variety. I wrote you from Saltillo on every point of importanCE1. I hope ere this the slave question is decided; the Baron promi~<l to write to you immediately after the question was decided.
Powered by FlippingBook