TEXAS. 



407 



more than 12 or 13 feet of water ; from April to August, ships may ride at anchor securely in 

 6 or 8 fathoms ; but from August to April, the heavy swell renders the coast dangerous, and 

 makes it impossible to lie at anchor oft' shore with safety. Galveston Bay is crossed by bars 

 having only 5 feet of water. Matagorda Bay has not generally more than 8 or 9 feet in its 

 channels, but the entrance, or Paso Cavallo, affords 12 feet. Esphitu Santo and Jlransaso 

 bays are still more shallow. The rivers are generally navigable during a part of the year, by 

 steamboats of moderate burden, being rarely interrupted by falls, although much obstructed by 

 shoals and bars. The Sabine forms the eastern boundary, and is navigable about 300 miles. 

 The Trinidad is a larger stream, but its channel is excessively winding. The Brazos de Bios 

 (Anns of God) is the principal river ; it rises on the northwestern borders, and reaches the 

 gulf in a winding course of about 600 miles. The Colorado is little inferior to the Brazos, 

 but is choked up by drift-wood 10 miles from its mouth. The Guadalupe and San Jlntonio, 

 which unite their waters, and the JWieces, are inferior but navigable streams. 



6. Divisions. Population. The republic is divided into 37 counties.* The population 

 amounts to about 100,000 ; of which number 75,000 are Anglo-Americans, 8,00i) are negroes 

 (slaves), and 15,000 Mexicans or Spanish Creoles. 



7. Indians. The Indians within the limits of the white settlements, are not numerous ; they 



are, Cushattos, numbering about 350 ; 

 Alabamas, 250 ; Wacos, on the Brazos, 

 400 ; and the Tonkawas. There are 

 some Caddos, Cherokees, Choctaws, 

 Shawnees, and other Indians from the 

 United States, the Comanches, and the 

 Towiash, in the northern parts of the 

 republic. The aggregate number is 

 about 12,000. 



8. Towns. Although the presidio or 

 fortress of San Antonio de Bejar was 

 founded as early as 1681, no important 

 towns grew up here while Texas be- 

 longed to the Spaniards. Bexar or Be- 

 jar, the capital of the old Province, is 

 pleasantly situated on the San Antonio, 

 and has a population of about 2,000, 

 mostly Spanish Creoles. The Alamo 

 or citadel, is a strong fortress, built b}' 

 the Spaniards, in about 1720 ; but it has 

 been several times captured during the late struggles. La Bahia., now Goliad., was also a 

 strong post, but the works are now mostly in ruins ; the village numbers about SOO inhabitants. 

 Gonsalcs and Fjc?ori«, on the Guadalupe ; Montezuma., on the Colorado ; and .DIalagorda, 

 on the bay of the same name ; Brazoria., Vclasco^ Columbia., Bolivar, San Felipe de Austin, 

 and IVashingtori, on the Brazos, are small villages. Houston, the former capital of the repub- 

 lic, on Buffalo Bayou, is a thriving town, with 3,000 inhabitants. Galveston, on the eastern 

 end of the island of San Louis, has lately become an important commercial mart. Population, 

 6,000. J^acogdoches is an old Spanish post and town, and contains about 1,000 inhabitants ; it 

 is still the principal seat of the Indian trade. San Augustine is a flourishing little village, on 

 the Ayish, a branch of the Nnches. The seat of government has lately been removed to the 

 Colorado, where the city o( Austin has been laid out, near the centre of the republic. 



9. Government. The government is modeled on that of the United States ; the executive 

 authority is vested in a President, who is chosen by popular vote, and holds office for the 



Valley of the Comaiiclics 



Alabama 



Austin 



Bastrop 



Bexar 



Brazoria 



Colorado 



Fannin 



Fayette 



Fort Bend 



Galveston 



Goliad 



Gonsales 



Harrison 



flarrisbiirg 



Honston 



Jackson 



.fasper 



Jefferson 



1/3 vara 



Liberty 



Matagorda 



Milam 



Montcfoniery 



Nac'iffdoches 



Ked Itiver 



Ilcfni^io 



Robertson 



Fa bine 



St. Augustine 

 St. Patricio 

 St. Antonio 

 San Felipe 

 Slielby 

 Tancha 

 Travis 

 Victoria 

 Washino ton 



