None of his informants had promised him that he should just come upon it at that most interesting locality-the Tépe -where the mightier river is joined by another of very considerable size, and that in this place he was to cross it. His arrival at this point was a most fortunate circumstance. As he looked from the bank over the scene before him, he was quite enchanted, although the whole country bore the character of a desolate wilderness; but there could scarcely be any great traces of human industry near the river, as, during its floods, it inundates the whole country on both sides. This is the general character of all the great rivers in these regions, except where they are encompassed by very steep banks.

It was Barth's intention to have explored this interesting region; to have investigated the basin of his newly-discovered river, and to have penetrated into the fertile regions which extend to the southward; but, most unfortunately for the cause of knowledge, the sultan took offense at his presence, or was jealous of his proceedings, and ordered him back, when laid low with sickness, after only a few days' rest in this inhospitable city. Although extremely weak, our resolute explorer effected his journey back to Kuka in safety, and being most kindly and hospitably received by the ruling powers, he was enabled to pass the rainy season of 1851 in comparative comfort, although not in the best situation for a European constitution.

No war has ever occurred that so called out the latent resources, and developed the national characteristics of the people, as the Mexican war. It was a contest between two distinct races. On the one hand was a small force, mostly made up of undisciplined volunteers of the unyielding Anglo-Saxon race; and on the other, a host of thoroughly-disciplined and warbred soldiery, elated with former success, and confident in their overwhelming numbers-being more than ten to one against the undaunted volunteers. The Mexican army, made up of the mixed race of Spanish and Indian blood, fought upon their own soil, in the defense of their own country and homes; and were prompted by every principle of patriotism to exert every nerve to exterminate the foreign invaders-"the barbarians of the north"-from their land. But, with all the disadvantages against them, our little heroic army demon

strated to the world the superiority of the stock whence they sprung.

The first volunteer forces, which, in obedience to the requisitions on the different states, hastened to the reënforcement of General Taylor, were made up of altogether different materials from those troops who were sent to the country towards the close of the war.

They

The first were impelled by generous and not mercenary motives. were the culled men of the country; and were mostly young men-the majority of them from the best ranks of society-men of education and refinement. Gentlemen were as often found in the ranks, with musket or rifle on shoulder, as amongst the officers; and not unfrequently was it the case, that the private, on duty as sentinel, saluted his commanding-officer, whom he would scarcely have recognized at home. They were brave, proud-spirited fellows, with just vanity enough to feel that all the

eyes and hopes of the country were fixed upon them. And each individual had a due sense of his responsibility to his country, and counted himself, and justly so, a host in himself. Such were the rifle-regiments of Texas and Mississippi, the infantry and rifle-regiments of Louisiana from the South, and the forces raised in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio from the North. It is also true that many other volunteer-regiments, which arrived in the country soon after the taking of Monterey, were made up of good materials; and, in the majority, were well officered.

Of all the southern volunteers of General Taylor's division, the Mississippians and Texas Rangers most distinguished themselves. They were in all the battles of that line, after those of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. At Monterey and Buena Vista, these gallant troops were cruelly cut up. Hardly one-tenth of the members of those regiments returned to their homes-and those with shattered constitutions. The first Rangers from Texas were the genuine, brave, and hardy pioneers of that young and rising state. They were the men of Goliad and San Jacinto

-men whose greatest sport was an open prairie-fight with the untamable Camanches. They had measured arms with the Mexicans, and had a just appreciation of them. They knew their weakness, and how to take advantage of it.

Nowhere, perhaps, could one find such an assemblage of extraordinary and eccentric characters, as were to be met with in a Texas Ranger company. Here, men from all ranks and conditions of society were brought into contact.

Here was the old, scarred hero of many a sanguinary Indian fight, whose head, for many months at a time, had not known the shelter of a roof, but whose only covering had been the "blue vault," and whose only food, such as his trusty rifle had furnished him.

His hardy half-breed horse is to him not only confidential friend and companion, but almost wife and children, also. All his affections-the roughlooking, hardy man has a warm heart and kindliest impulses-are placed upon him; for his intelligent little animal has shared with him all his dangers, hardships, and privations.

The genuine Ranger may always be

distinguished from the quasi-Texian, by the animal he rides. He is generally a cross of the mustang of the Texas plains with the Kentucky or Virginia blood-horse. He possesses all the fire and endurance of the one, combined with the docility, intelligence, and speed of the other; or, rather, all the best points and characteristics of the two races are more perfectly developed in the half-breed horse of the Texas Ranger.

The true Texian, under all circumstances, and at all times, whether on a march or in camp, is more regardful of the convenience and comfort of his steed than of himself. He will go hungry, if need be, that his horse may be fed. He will freely give him the contents of his water-gourd, and suffer from thirst himself, rather than his equine friend and comrade should be permitted to feel it.

In a company of several hundred men, like a volunteer regiment. made up of individuals from every grade and class of society, from the statesmen and founders of a republic to the humble member of the "finest pisantry; where wealthy planters and professional men, students, and clerks fresh from the counting-house, backwoodsmen and Indian-fighters, adventurers and men of "no visible means" are congregated together, and where is represented every profession, and almost every country, it would be natural to suppose that every phase of human nature would be encountered. Perhaps this was more particularly so with the First Texas Rifles than with any other volunteer organization in our army. There is no place like an army to develop the peculiar traits of each individual. Selfishness, generosity, and all the best and worst features of the human heart here reveal themselves. A few months' companionship in camp makes men acquainted with each other than a lifetime spent together under any other circum

light night, the melody of psalm-singing, sermonizing, and prayer resounded over the camp. The chief orator, on these occasions, was an orderly-sergeant, Fry. He was a decided character, and deserves a passing notice. The Sergeant was the tallest man in the regiment, being six feet nine, in his stockings, and was slim and straight as an Indian; long favored, with blue eyes, and pleasant countenance, and a nose of huge proportions. Whether he belonged to the Methodist, Baptist, or Universalist persuasion, could not be ascertained from his discourses. One thing, however, was certain, if he was a Methodist, there was not much method in his eloquence. He never touched upon doctrinal points; and when not holding forth to his congregation, there was nothing of the parson in his manner, unless it was his general good-nature, and friendly smile, and word for every one he met. The Sergeant de

clared he had volunteered to look after the spiritual interest of the boys. That he meant to serve the Lord: but, if duty required him to shoot Mexicans, why, he thought he could do so, and look to heaven with a clear conscience." He was one of those pious soldiers, who could trust to Providence, but chose to take care of his own powder.

The Sergeant was a prominent member of the " Kangaroo Club.” This was a moonlight association got up by the young bloods of the regiment. Each member of this club was called upon, in turn, either to sing a song, or tell a good story; the forfeit or penalty for declining was, to take the place of some other member at his regular turn of guard-mounting.

66

The place of meeting of this club was on the plain, a short distance beyond the limits of the camp. Here they would form a circle on the ground, à la Turk, with a large canteen, labeled brandy," in the centre of the group. This was christened the "Fount of Inspiration." When a guard had been placed around the outside, to keep out the uninitiated, the meeting was called to order. First in the programme of proceedings is the introduction and

initiation of candidates. One is introduced at a time. He is invited, with much formality, to take a seat in the circle, when the president directs the fount to be passed to the new-comer. The Kangaroo, seated at his right hand,

steps to the centre, and, taking the canteen of liquor by the strap, returns to the side of the candidate. First

shaking it well, to his ear, to ascertain that it is full, he slowly draws the stopper, and applies his nose to the bung, to test the quality of the contents. Apparently not satisfied with this inspection, he next places it to his lips, and, throwing his head back as if to see the moon, takes a long hearty draught. Slowly bringing his head forward again, he lets the canteen gradually subside upon his lap; and then, inhaling a long breath, rounded off with an audible smack of approval, proceeds to pronounce an eulogium upon that most excellent and extra cognac," and desires to know of the president "where such good liquor is to be found."

The candidate for Kangaroo honors is very impatient, waiting all this time for his share of the good stuff. But he is doomed to disappointment; for no sconer does he reach out his hand to grasp the canteen, than the next righthand man snatches it away; and thus, with similar pantomime as at first, it makes the round of the circle of Kangaroos. The candidate watches its passage with fear and trembling, lest,

when it should finally get round to him, his share would be but small. Already his throat is parched, and he begins to "spit cotton." He is actually suffering a sort of martyrdom, when, at last, the vessel reaches him. He greedily places it to his lips, nor stops to taste, till he has imbibed several swallows; when, bah! he finds he has been most egregiously sold. He has been drinking the brackish water of the lagoon!

The Kangaroos, who have ben maintaining the utmost gravity up to this moment, now give vent to a general shout of merriment; and the half-vexed, half-laughing candidate is duly proclaimed a genuine Kangaroo, and called upon for his song or story.

Jimmy Byrne-or, as he was more familiarly known in the regiment, by the name of Brian O'Linn-was a "character," and a good deal of a genius in his way. He was also, as his name indicates, a native of

66 The swatest isle of the ocean."

Jimmy was a lively little fellow, always full of fun and frolic, and at all times ready with a song: indeed, music seemed to flow spontaneously from his lungs. Sometimes, even when on our