"
Castro was going in the same direction as ourselves to join his band,
which was at that moment buffalo-hunting, a few journeys northward. He
had promised his company and protection to two foreign gentlemen, who
were desirous of beholding the huge tenant of the prairies. We all
started together, and we enjoyed very much this addition to our company.
The first day we travelled over an old Spanish military road, crossing
rich rolling prairies, here and there watered by clear streams, the
banks of which are sheltered by magnificent oaks. Fifteen miles from
Austin there is a remarkable spot, upon which a visionary speculator had
a short time before attempted to found a city. He purchased an immense
tract of ground, had beautiful plans drawn and painted, and very soon
there appeared, upon paper, one of the largest and handsomest cities in
the world. There were colleges and public squares, penitentiaries,
banks, taverns, whisky-shops, and fine walks. I hardly need say, that
this town-manufacturer was a Yankee, who intended to realize a million
by selling town-lots. The city (in prospective) was called Athens, and
the silly fellow had so much confidence in his own speculation, that he
actually built upon the ground a very large and expensive house. One
day, as he, with three or four negroes, were occupied in digging a well,
he was attacked by a party of Yankee thieves, who thought he had a great
deal of money.
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