446 FKAGMENT OF Book in. 
in with some "old Texans." I give here a specimen of 
their jokes and tales. " To be worse than I am," said one 
to another, " is what I call perfectly ridiculous. I am 
sometimes ashamed of myself; and to be so I must be 
bad indeed ; but Bill is still worse, and this I call ridicu- 
lous." This man called out to another, during the con- 
versation, " Don't be afraid, fool ! I never killed a man 
half as white as you are." The conversations of these 
bravos drew my attention to a female character of the 
Texan frontier life, and, on inquiry, I heard the following 
particulars. They were speaking of a North American 
amazon, a perfect female desperado, who from inclination 
has chosen for her residence the wild border-country 
on the Bio Grande. She can handle a revolver and 
bowie-knife like the most reckless and skilful man ; she 
appears at dances (fandangos) thus armed, and has even 
shot several men at merry-makings. She carries on 
the trade of a cattle-dealer, and common carrier. She 
drives wild horses from the prairie to market, and takes 
her oxen-waggon, alone, through the ill-reputed country 
between Corpus Christi and the Bio Grande. 
21st. — I rode in vain to all the farms in the neighbour- 
hood : the folks would not let out their draught-oxen, fear- 
ing to lose them on the bad roads. 
22nd. — Be turn to the waggons without having suc- 
ceeded, and find them encamped beside a small deep brook, 
in the prairie called the Zorillo. On their arrival, the 
mules had been unyoked during a violent norther ; and in 
consequence of the sudden chill several of them died in 
less than half an hour. Fortunately maize has arrived for 
the animals. Our Mexicans are merry in the midst of toils 
and privations : this evening I hear them singing till late 
at night. "Are we not brave fellows?" exclaims one: 
