22d April (Wednesday).—We got under weigh at 5 A.M., the mules looking rather mean for want of grass.
At 8 Am. we reached the Nueces river, the banks of which are very steep, and are bordered with a beautiful belt of live oak-trees, covered with mustang grapes.
On the other side of the Nueces is “Oakville,” a miserable settlement, consisting of about twenty wooden huts. We bought some butter there, and caught up Ward’s waggons. The women at Oakville were most anxious to buy snuff. It appears that the Texan females are in the habit of dipping snuff—which means, putting it into their mouths instead of their noses. They rub it against their teeth with a blunted stick.
We reached grass about 10 A.M., and “nooned it,” the weather being very trying—very sultry, without sun or wind.
We hitched in at 1.15 — Ward’s waggons in our front, and a Frenchman’s four-horse team in our rear. At 4 P.M. we reached the “Weedy,” a creek which, to our sorrow, was perfectly dry. We drove on till 7 P.M., and halted at some good grass. There being a report of water in the neighbourhood, Mr Sargent, the Judge, Ward, and the Frenchman, started to explore; and when, at length, they did discover a wretched little mud-hole, it appears that a desperate conflict for the water ensued, for the Judge returned to us a mass of mud, and presenting a very crestfallen appearance. Shortly after, Mr Sargent appeared, in such a bad humour that he declined to cook, to eat, to drink, or do anything but swear vehemently.
Deprived by this contretemps of our goat’s flesh we had recourse to an old ham and very stale bread.
We met many cotton trains and government waggons to-day, and I think we have progressed about thirty-four miles.
