FLORA OF KORTH-WESTERN MEXICO. 259 
San Bias two days after, but only stopped a few hours to take in a supply of wood and 
water. 
The second journey, being more extensive, was more productive in a botanical point of 
view: it was after the 'Herald's' second voyage to the Arctic regions. The vessel was to 
make a hydrographical survey of the Gulf of California ; and as that operation did not hold 
out many advantages for the increase of our collections, I proposed visiting the towns of 
Durango and if possible Chihuahua, where I hoped to effect a meeting with Mr. Potts, the 
manager of the Mint of that place, and at the same time an ardent collector of plants. Cap- 
tain Kellett having agreed to this plan, T started from Mazatlan on the 28rd of November, 
1849, and on the same day reached San Sebastian. The road, after traversing for several 
miles tiresome IMangi'ove swamps, ascended slightly, but became hardly more interesting. 
It being the dry season, most plants were either leafless or burnt up, and only a very few in 
flower. Having visited San Sebastian in 1848, I remained but a day at that place, taking 
up my quarters with my friend Don Alejandro Bueso. The forenoon of the following day 
I passed through Maguei (Agave) plantations, remarkable for their stiff and uncouth appear- 
ance ; in the afternoon the landscape became more varied. I came to the foot of the Andes, 
or Sierra Madre, as they are here termed. The oppressive atmosphere of the coast was less 
felt at every step ; the air became cooler and more agreeable to a European constitution ; 
the excessive dryness however continued. On the 26th I reached the villnge of Copala, and 
on the following day that of Santa Lucia, one of the most charming places, on account of 
its situation, I have seen in Mexico. Leaving Santa Lucia I passed Ocotes, a place deriving 
its name from the Ocote, a Pir from which pitch is made, and reached, on the 1st of Decem- 
ber, the Rancho of Guadalupe, situated about 6000 feet above the sea. 
In ascending towards the top of the Sierra the temperature had gradually decreased, 
but fortunately not fallen to the freezing-point. On proceeding however everything partook 
of a wintry aspect, and 1 became soon aware that my principal harvest was over. At about 
8000 feet the Evergreen Oak disappeared, Eirs being the only trees then met with. Of lierb- 
age nothing remained but brown leaves ; and the httle streams which, at a lower elevation, 
had given variety to the sylvan scene, were covered with ice one to two inches thick. The 
nights were bitterly cold, and in vain did I try to get a few hours* sleep : it was impossible, 
even near the fire. I continued my journey over large plains, passing Cayotes, Salto, Llano 
Grande, Navios, Los Miembrcs, and Rio Chico, all collections of a few miserable huts, at- 
which the traveller obtains, at high charges, tortillas de maiz (corn-cakes) for himself, and 
Indian corn for his animals. To cross these elevated plains is rather dangerous at this sea- 
son : sudden snow-storms and, throughout the year, attacks from highway robbers and wild 
Indians are common occurrences ; indeed in every mile of the road you observe one or more 
heaps of stones, with a wooden cross on the top, iudicathig the spots where people have been 
slain by the hands of robbers. 
In the city of Durango I was hospitably received by Mr. Washington Kerr, an Ameii- 
2 K 2 
