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Show 74 PERSONAL ADVENTURES forms very carefully, we elicited no small degree of admiration as we marched to our quarters, which 'vere nothing n1ore than some old Spanish barracks, in tolerable repair, and of the lath, plaster, and whitewash style of architecture. . We were received by about twenty or thirty volunteers-old hands, as they were called ; and so they were, in rnore senses than one; but, as they seemed very glad of our coming, and provided us with abundance of fresh beef, we had no reason for the mo1nent to take exception to the results of their experience. As soon as I was somewhat refreshed, I took advantage of an offer from one of the ''old hands," and proceeded to explore the town. By way of general description, I tnay say that the majority of the houses are built of adobe, (unburnt brick) 'vithout decent windows or doors, and many in a deplorable state of decay. The school-house, however, is a very fine building, constructed of square blocks of stone, and lofty, being two stories high, and containing three large rooms, one of which is |