tro, the
chief of the Lepan Indians, an offset of the Comanche tribe. He is one
of the best-bred gentlemen in the world, having received a liberal and
military education, first in Mexico, and subsequently in Spain. He has
travelled in France, Germany, England, and, in fact, all over Europe.
He speaks and writes five or six languages, and so conscious is he of
his superiority over the Texians, that he never addresses them but with
contempt. He once said to them in the legislature room of
Matagorda--"Never deceive yourselves, Texians. I fight with you against
the Mexicans, because betwixt them and me there is an irreconcilable
hatred. Do not then flatter yourselves that it is through friendship
towards you. I can give my friendship only to those who are honourable
both in peace and in war; you are all of you liars, and many of you
thieves, scoundrels, and base murderers. Yes, dogs, I say true; yelp
not, bark not, for you know you dare not bite, now that my two hundred
warriors are surrounding this building: be silent, I say."

Castro was going in the same direction as ourselves to join his band,
which was at that moment buffalo-hunting, a few journeys northward. He
had promised his company and protection to two foreign gentlemen, who
were desirous of beholding the huge tenant of the prairies. We all
started together, and we enjoyed very much this addition to our company.

The first day we travelled over an old Spanish military road, crossing
rich rolling prairies, here and there watered by clear streams, the
banks of which are sheltered by magnificent oaks. Fifteen miles from
Austin there is a remarkable spot, upon which a visionary speculator had
a short time before attempted to found a city. He purchased an immense
tract of ground, had beautiful plans drawn and painted, and very soon
there appeared, upon paper, one of the largest and handsomest cities in
the world. There were colleges and public squares, penitentiaries,
banks, taverns, whisky-shops, and fine walks. I hardly need say, that
this town-manufacturer was a Yankee, who intended to realise a million
by selling town-lots. The city (in prospective) was called Athens, and
the silly fellow had so much confidence in his own speculation, that he
actually built upon the ground a very large and expensive house. One
day, as he, with three or four negroes, were occupied in digging a well,
he was attacked by a party of Yankee thieves, who thought he had a g