it could be forded below Laredo, and it is, indeed, barely fordable there. It is a beautiful [72] river, averaging four hundred yards in width, with high bluffs generally on one side or the other, and the opposite side always a fertile bottom. This river resembles more the Ohio, when in boatable order, than any we recollect to have seen, and is far superior for steamboat navigation to any other upon the Gulf of Mexico west of the Mississippi. The alluvion upon this river is almost exclusively upon the west bank, and is capable of the highest state of cultivation; while the eastern bank bluffs down nearly to the water's edge with high and precipitous hills. These hills are covered with a dense growth of trees and shrubbery, all bearing thorns in some shape or other, and forms what is called, in the Mexican language, the Chaparral. The immense number of stock which has fed upon these hills for many years having kept down the grass, has caused deep washes, with such precipitous sides that it is frequently with great difficulty that cavalry can proceed, and therefore makes this the most defensible country for Texian warfare, and especially the rifle. Both cavalry and artillery would be next to useless in these hills, and we hazard nothing in saying that, with the advantage of the water, stock, and contiguity to the towns and settlements upon the western bank, one thousand Texians could occupy it in perfect security against ten times their number. This river and the adjacent country were viewed, as well by the author as others in the expedition, with a military eye, in expectation [73] of future campaigns; and we may congratulate our country that she is now in possession of information which, in such an event, will make her strength five times as available.

The flotilla proceeded down the river, capturing and burning between forty and fifty boats, and stopping at different settlements for provision sufficient for the troops; and we assert, from positive knowledge, that no unnecessary waste was either allowed or perpetrated by the destruction of any stock more than was necessary or barely sufficient as rations. The only waste which could not be prevented was by our horses when turned into the cornfields. The corn had been cut and stacked, and during the night the horses may have pulled down more than they ate, but this must have been inconsiderable. The first night after our separation from the home troops, the boats stopped at a rancho, where we met the tribe of Carancawa Indians, who had just previously to that time committed some depredations upon our coast about Live Oak Point, and fled for fear of punishment. These Indians protested their innocence, pretended great friendship for us, and expressed a desire to return to Texas. It was thought prudent to disarm them to prevent their joining the enemy, and all their implements of war, quivers, bows, arrows, &c., and with them a British flag, which they doubtless pilfered from some English vessel on the coast, were taken and placed in the boats.6 [74]

A company of spies were constantly kept on the western side of the river as