58 
SAN ANTONIO 
three feet high, and its strength showed the richness 
of the soil. After riding several miles through this 
beautiful valley, we forded the river Piedernales, there 
about one hundred feet in width, and entered the 
village which glories in the name of Zodiac, a Mormon 
colony of one hundred and fifty persons^ under the 
especial care of Elder Wight, as designated by the 
faithful, though among worldly sinners he bore the 
appellation of “Colonel.’*’ 
Sending the train forward by a more direct road, 
I drove, with twelve of my party, to the house of the 
Mormon leader. To a request that dinner might be 
served to us, if it was his custom to entertain travel- 
lers, he readily expressed assent, and ordered the 
meal to be prepared. 
Every where around us in this Zodiacal settlement, 
we saw abundant signs of prosperity. Whatever may 
be their theological errors, in secular matters they 
present an example of industry and thrift which the 
people of the State might advantageously imitate. 
They have a tract of land, which they have improved 
for about three years, and which has yielded profitable 
crops. The well built houses, perfect fences, and tidy 
door-yards, gave the place a home-like air, such as we 
had not before seen in Texas. The dinner was a regu- 
lar old-fashioned New England farmer’s meal, com- 
prising an abundance of every thing, served with 
faultless neatness. The entire charge here for a din- 
ner for twelve persons, and corn for as many animals, 
was three dollars — a modest demand, which strikingly 
contrasted with the Astor House prices of a Mr. Mc- 
Grew, and some others, between Indianola and Victoria. 
