Nacogdoches, Bexar, Victoria, and Goliad, for merly called Bahia, are the only towns remaining to be noticed. Nacogdoches is situated on the head waters of Neches river, in the eastern part of the province, and about 160 miles, in a direct line, from the gulf coast. It is on the great road lead ing from New Orleans and Natchitoches, in Louisi ana, to the city of Leona Vicario, the capital of the state of Coahuila and Texas, and is 728 miles north east from that city. Fort Nacogdoches, the Berme whence the town of that name sprung, was erected shortly after the first settlement of the country, and was for a long period the only settlement in this part of Texas. The town itself never attained to any importance in point of population, and its commerce was chiefly confined to the supply of the garrison, and a small trade with the surrounding Indian tribes. Since its destruction in 1821, the town has been rebuilt, and the number of its inha bitants considerably augmented by emigrants from the United States.
Bexar,or San Antonio de Bejar, the former capital of the province, is situated on the western prong of Salado creek, an inconsiderable branch of the San Antonio river, 393 miles southwest from Na cogdoches, 153 west from San Felipe de Austin, and 335 miles north-northeast from Leona Vicario.
Goliad is situated on the right bank of San An tonio river, about 40 miles above its entrance into Espiritu Santo bay, and 115 southwest from San Felipe de Austin. Goliad, like Bexar, is a place of but little importance, although built more than half a century. Neither Bexar nor Gonad can be re garded in any other light than as mere villages. The latter possesses some advantages over the other from its proximity to the gulf, the San An tonio being navigable for vessels of small draft as far up as Goliad.
Victoria, on the left bank of Guadalupe, is a vil lage of the smallest class, but is said to be improv ing.
The " Upper road," or that leading from New Orleans by Natchitoches, &c. to the city of Mexi co, intersects the Sabine about 45 miles west from Natchitoches. After crossing the Sabine, it pur sues a little south of west, until it reaches Nacog doches; thence turning towards the southwest, it pro ceeds to Bexar, where it assumes a more southern direction, and intersects the Nueces about 150 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. In its course from Na cogdoches to the Nueces, this road successively crosses the Trinidad, Brazos, Colorado, Guada lupe, and San Antonio rivers. It is 98 miles from Natchitoches to Nacogdoches, thence to the Trini dad 78, thence to the Brazos 59, to the Colorado 60, Guadalupe 58, town of Bexar 40, Nueces 105, and thence to Leona Vicario 230 miles.
The Lower road, so called, leads from New Or leans, via Opelousas, to the town of Goliad. It crosses the Sabine 30 miles above its discharge into Sabine lake, and follows a south-west course, at a mean distance from the gulf coast of fifty miles, passes through San Felipe de Austin, and inter sects the Nueces 469 miles from Opelousas.
Other roads have been opened. Among these are the following: from San Felipe de Austin to Brazoria 70, and thence to the mouth of the Brazos 25 miles, to the Old Fort on the Brazos 38 miles, to Harrisburg 45 miles, to Victoria 110, and thence to Goliad 22 miles,—to Matagorda 95 miles. Many improvements of this kind have been made, and some others are contemplated. _