PBA Galleries

Rare, early gold rush letter from a gold seeker crossing the heart of Mexico. The letter is primarily an explanation why Martin found it necessary to issue a draft on his grandfather's account to raise funds necessary to continue the journey, and in doing so gives great detail on the trek across Mexico and its difficulties. "We have been obliged to sacrifice $2000 on wagons which we purchased at Vera Cruiz for transporting our baggage to the Pacific...but finding that we were unable to proceed any farther than Hallappa with them, our road being very hilly and sandy, our mules gave out and we put our shoulders to the wagons in order to help them along and only travel from 12-15 miles a day... At Hallappa we have transported our baggage on pack mules which we find a much faster way of traveling.... Many of our party have been obliged to sell their clothing and arms which they carried for raising means to carry them through... I find the Mexicans to be, generally speaking, a poor, ignorant and worthless race of beings ready to take every advantage of the Americans they possibly can in the way of stealing or cheating us or even taking our lives dare they do it. But they are great cowards, and we have learned to watch them close..." Ink notation beside teh postmark indicates it was to be sent via New Orleans.