VIEW OF SIERRAS FROM BISHOP'S PALACE.
[CHAPTER IV.]
SOUTHWARD TO SALTILLO.—SANTA CATERINA.—REMARKABLE CAVES.—SCENERY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.—WAY-SIDE ATTRACTIONS.—THE CACTUS; ITS FLOWERS AND MANY VARIETIES.—SALTILLO.—THE ALAMEDA.—MEXICAN CURRENCY.—THE BATTLE-FIELD OF BUENA VISTA.—BY CARRIAGE AND SADDLE.—A NIGHT AT A HACIENDA.—MEXICAN COOKERY.—TORTILLAS, PUCHERO, FRIJOLES, TAMALES, AND OTHER EDIBLES.—HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN WAR FROM MONTEREY TO BUENA VISTA.—5,000 AMERICANS DEFEAT 20,000 MEXICANS.—DESCRIPTION OF THE FIELD.—COTTON FACTORY AT SALTILLO.—COTTON MANUFACTURES IN MEXICO.
On resuming their journey through Mexico, Doctor Bronson and his young companions proceeded by the railway southward to Saltillo, sixty-seven miles from Monterey.
SANTA CATERINA, NEAR MONTEREY.
As they passed Santa Caterina, eight or ten miles beyond Monterey, one of their fellow-passengers told them that there were some interesting caves not very far from the station, and also near Garcia, thirteen miles farther on. A remarkable hole in the mountain near Santa Caterina was pointed out by the same gentleman, but in spite of his voluble account of the attractive features of a journey there, they did not consent to stop for the excursion. They also decided to allow the caves of Garcia to take care of themselves, much to the disappointment of their informant.
The beauty of the scenery along the railway, almost from the very moment of leaving Monterey, kept their eyes busy on both sides of the train. The railway for some distance follows the San Juan Valley, which diminishes in width as it ascends. The labored puffing of the locomotive told that the grade was a steep one, and it was evident that the engine was exerting all its powers. On most trains two locomotives are required, and an extra one is always added unless the number of carriages is small and their cargoes are light.