I crossed the river at 9 A.M., and got a carriage at the
Mexican side to take my baggage and myself to the Consulate at Matamoros. The
driver ill-treated his half-starved animals most cruelly. The Mexicans are even
worse than the Spaniards in this respect.
I called on Mr Oetling, the Prussian Consul, who is one of
the richest and most prosperous merchants in Matamoros, and a very nice fellow.
After dinner we went to a fandango, or open-air fête. About 1500 people
were gambling, and dancing bad imitations of European dances.
SOURCE: Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, Three
months in the southern states: April-June, 1863, p. 10
