Face of the the southwestern quarter of Texas presents a broken and irregular appearance, no elevations deserving the name of mountain, in its enlarged sense, exist within its lim its. In the adjoining province of Coahuila, moun tains of great elevation extend in ridges, nearly parallel with, and at a mean distance of 70 miles southwest from, the Rio Bravo. The great peak near Monterey, is called " curia de la Silla," (sad dle mountain,) from its resemblance at the top to a Spanish saddle, when viewed from the Salinas road.
The same chain acquires increased elevation near Candela, and can be seen at a distance or 80 or 100 miles, enveloped in clouds, and its high peaks co vered with snow during a great part of the year. The entire country, for many leagues southwest of Monclova, is exceedingly mountainous, and gene rally destitute of timber. The mountain ranges of Texas, in which the Colorado, Guadalupe, and Nueces have their sources, are of the third and fourth magnitude. Those extending along the right side of San Saba river, are probably the high est; their elevations, however, are matter of mere conjecture, as no scientific means have yet been employed to obtain accuracy in this particular. A considerable elevation, will no doubt be found on a careful measurement, at the sources of the Nueces, Guadalupe, Colorado, &c.; for while the streams above draw their waters from springs quite remote from each other, we find those rivers, together with the Puerco and several other branches of the Rio Bravo, rising within a circle of less than 50 miles in diameter; thus indicating an elevation far above the surrounding table land. From this nucleus, chains of mountains, or rather high hills, extend in every direction. The one most deserving notice, is that chain which divides the waters of San Saba, from those of the Llano, and is unquestionably a prolongation of the Ozark mountains of Major Long. Before it intersects the Colorado, it attains to an immense height, and forms what is called the Great Peak." a few miles to the south of the mouth of San Saba, and near the right bank of the former river. Thence it ranges towards the north, separates the waters of Pecan and San Andres ri vers, and turning eastward, terminates in a peak on the right bank of the Brazos, nearly opposite to the outlet of Noland river. A spur from this chain extends towards the east, and forms the dividing ridge between the Medina and the upper branches of the Guadalupe.
The great spring of Guadalupe, issues from the eastern end of this chain, which also gives rise to the fountain in the vicinity of Ilexar. Another spur leaves the principal chain near the sources of the Guadalupe and Llano rivers, and becoming gra dually more depressed, in its course towards the east, is finally lost near the great spring of San Marcas. A succession of sand hills extend from
the latter, commencing at the source of the Pieder a branch, of the Colorado, and passing to wards the northeast, subside before they reach the bank of the latter. The fountain of San Lucia is situated in this chain, near the source of the Pieder nales. The next chain in point of elevation, leaves the one just mentioned, at the first fountain of the Colorado, pursues a• northwest direction, and joins the Guadalupe mountain of Humboldt, about 300 miles from its point of outset. This chain forms the boundary between Texas and the territory of Santa Fe or New-Mexico, and state of Chihuahua, and divides the waters of Rio Bravo from those of the Brazos and Colorado. Its mean elevation must be considerable, and will no doubt be found, on a careful examination, to exceed in height the moun tains of San Saba, which are generally regarded as the most elevated. The third chain in the order, extends towards the northeast, divides the waters of Piedra Pinta from the San Saba and Conchas rivers, and is pierced by the Colorado, below its junction with the Pasigon. Thence it continues its northeastern direction, between the Piaroya and Ontejunova, joins the chain first described, near the source of Pecan river, where a spur leaves it, and passing between the Pecan and \Visshonca, forms a high peak, and then rapidly subsiding, terminates near the Colorado.
The foul th and last chain worthy of notice, ex tends southeastward, and separates the waters of the Medina and Rio Frio, a large branch of the Nueces. Near the source of the Rio Frio, a broken ridge leaves the main chain, passes towards the southeast, and divides the upper waters of Rio Frio from the Nueces. At the foot of this chain, and over the plain which extends on both sides of the Nueces towards the Gulf of Mexico, are found those countless droves of wild horses, which give animation to a region otherwise desolate and dreary. Most of the rivers which have their sources in the northeastern part of the province, flow through open plains of grass, into the marshes which line the southeastern coast of Texas, in common with the southern portion of the adjoining state of Lou isiana. The whole of the northeastern part of the province is undulating, with hills of moderate ele vation. These, however, entirely subside on leaving the forests, and near the gulf coast nothing is to be seen but a monotonous level of prairie and sea marsh. Advancing westward, a rapid improvement in the soil and general aspect of the country is per ceptible. The lands near the coast become more elevated and dry; marshes, which abound to such an unlimited extent in the southeastern quarter, almost wholly disappear on approaching the valley of the Brazos.