1848.] 93 



in the months of September, October and November, averaged 80° at 3 P. M. 

 with little variation, the atmosphere was so loaded with moisture that it was im- 

 possible to keep our lighting tools Iree from rust for twerity-lbur hours at a time, 

 protect them as we might. 



The animals met with at the Fueuta Nacional and on tlie tierra caliente, are 

 forth:! greater part common to 'i'exas and the north; the common i\eer is 

 abundant, though of small size; the red fox, the prairie wolf, arid the spotted liger 

 cat ate frequently met with, and the Puma also, though more frequently in the 

 mountains above. Reptiles are exceedingly numerous, though of lew species. 

 The royal Iguano, as it is called, is found in the cliffs bordering the river Antigua, 

 and ijrows to a very large size: one killed by a Mexican measuring nine feet 

 in length. The tiesh of this species, as well as that of others, is considered quite 

 a delicacy by the inhabitants. I observed a curious habit of a species of lizard, 

 which has not been noticed before to my knowledge; it is that of passing over 

 the water in an erect pos tion, resting on its hinder parts, and propelling itself 

 by its hmd feet, its tail laying horizontally on the water, acting as a rudder. In 

 the San Juan and Antigua rivers I noticed an alligator which appeared to be dif- 

 fereiit from our common spec;es ; the young, a specimen of which I caught, is 

 entirely black, without the usual yellow markings on its back. 



Land and fresh water shells are scarce ; the bed> if the streams being very 

 stony; nearer the coast, however, they may perhaps be more abundant. After 

 passing the tierra caliente, the ascent increases over the tierra templada, as above 

 stated, to the foot of the mountains. The whole ol the surface of this part of the 

 country is much broken by low ranges of volcanic hills and deep ravines or 

 barrancas, as they are called, of two to five hundred feet in depth, which run, . 

 commonly, at right angles from the mountain chain above. The city of Jalapa 

 derives its name from that of an ancient Indian village, a few leagues distant, and 

 signifies " built among barrancas.'' 



• Most of the hills are of volcanic formation, though they are not all so, as I have 

 seen stated. 'J"he limestone shows itself in the valleys at the foot of the moun- 

 tains, and in the barrancas, when of sufficient width. It is, of course, very much 

 altered from its connection with the volcanic rock, being uncrystallized and 

 wh teried. It is not fossiliferous, and, as far as I noticed, unstratified. At Qu-r- 

 terpec, a few leagues south of Jalapa and at other places, it is burnt by the In- 

 dians, atid the lime is sold in the neighbouring towns and cities. 



The soil of the valleys is rich, and under cultivation produces during the whole 

 year, rice, coffee, tobacco, sugar cane, corn and other vegetable productions, 

 fruit, &c.;Of both tropical and temperate climes, in great abundance. The ave- 

 rage of temperature I should place lower than Humboldt. During the months 

 of January and February, there were several nights of severe frosts in the 

 neighborhood of Jalapa and below, which stripped the trees on the hills of their 

 foliage, but I was told it was of very unusual occurrence. 



Every one who has visited this country must agree with Humboldt, that the 

 region comprising the tierra templada anJ the eastern slope of the mountains 

 above, is "one of the most beautiful and picturesque in the v\orld." Ko other 

 part of the world, perhaps, can present scenery of such sublime and picturesque 

 beauty. When travelling over the rough and barren hills, strewn with volcanic 

 rocks, the scene is suddenly changed by coming upon the edge of a barranca or 

 ravine, its bottom lands several hundred feet below you, highly cultivated in 



