Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/675

Rh, however, being venomous; but they gnawed and destroyed our wretched clothing. The little pests became so tame that large numbers of them lived and slept among us. So many enemies at the same time were too many for us. Within forty days few amongst us were still in good health. From 10 o'clock in the morning the sun darted its rays so intensely upon our tents that they became suffocating, their temperature rising to that of an oven, and forcing us out. We obtained water from holes dug on the bay shore — it was warm, and tasted horridly.

As to food — so long as the stores of a vessel, robbed by them from our nation, lasted, we fared tolerably well; but, these supplies being exhausted, they starved us again.

The tidings of San Jacinto had spread abroad. Those who received them with the greatest delight were a certain class of vagabonds and lawless men, burdened with crimes, who hid themselves in the large city of New Orleans. These Gipsies, the refuse of the world, had some scruple in joining the cause of Texas, as congenial as it was to them, for the mere trifling fact that Santa Anna had entered it with 6,000 Mexicans. They had preferred to pause, with due regard for their valuable skins, and await the result. No sooner, however, had they heard of the disaster of the 21st of April, than their patriotism was screwed up to the highest pitch. They became louder in their boasts; ran to enlist to fill up the ranks of the Texan rebels, as adventurers or volunteers, and shipped at once to join the army. Henceforth shiploads of that hateful rabble came in quick succession from New Orleans. Now they could, without danger, squabble over the league of land, or for the ownership of the land of plenty. As they approached the coast of Galveston, and descried the promised land, Orestes-like, they greeted with enthusiasm their beloved new home. Their hurrahs and expressions of joy were interspersed with deep and repeated draughts of their horrid whiskey. All their trust and hope lay now in the dense forests and fertile plains of Texas.

Such were not our feelings. Whenever the arrival of these new-comers was announced, gloom prevailed in our camp, knowing that we had to expect every kind of impertinence. Every gang of that rabble that came surrounded our camp, most of them being drunk, and thought it becoming to make a display of bravery and patriotism, by pouring upon us a volley of Godames, and other abusive expressions. Our outward appearance was, unfortunately, quite ridiculous; filthy, lean, unshorn, most of us sick, some in rags, or all but naked, we sought, naturally to hide ourselves. Not so, however; we were compelled to form in line, in order that nothing might escape the scrutiny, criticism, and merriment of our inquisitive visitors, who, of course, conceived a poor idea of the Mexican people from the samples exhibited before them. Nevertheless, and in spite of the helpless condition in which they saw us, they discussed among themselves the propriety of calling on us at night for the charitable purpose of murdering us. General Cos, who had received several reports on that subject, sent for the commandant of the camp to acquaint him with the facts, and to request him to protect us by an increase of guards and vigilance.

There were among the volunteers some men of wealth and education who came to our camp for the only purpose of visiting, and being acquainted