^2 Audubon's Western Journal 



Mississippi. After our long ride of thirty-two 

 miles, with only a hard boiled egg each for our 

 mid-day meal, at three o'clock we reached Browns- 

 ville where the rolling of bowling-alleys and the 

 cannoning of billiard balls was all that seemed to 

 enliven the village at that hour. I went to find 

 the Quartermaster to know where to put our money 

 for safety, and was most kindly received by Major 

 Brice^ who took charge of it and put it in the strong 

 box at Fort Brown. From this place we had next 

 morning a fine view of Matamoras, and the Amer- 

 ican-like appearance rather startled me from my 

 old belief of the low standard of all things Mex- 

 ican, for it was the only town like a town I had 

 seen; but I resumed my old opinion when I was 

 told that all the good houses had been built by 

 Mr. McGown, who had resided there for years, 

 and so far I have not seen anything in the shape 

 of architecture worthy the name, except the old 

 missions about San Antonio de Bexar. 



Brownsville, March 8th. Almost a calm this 

 clear morning, but occasionally a soft breeze, so 

 gentle as just to wave the white cover of the table 

 at which I sat. From time to time a distant ham- 

 mer sluggishly drove a nail, and the proud cock 

 was heard to boast his self-importance in a shrill 



^ Major Benjamin William Brice served through the Civil 

 War in the paymaster's department and became a major gen- 

 eral at its close. 



