184 MK. HAKTWEG'S JOUENAL OK A MISSION TO CALIFORNIA. 



Jalisco : judging from its dilapidated state, tradition seems to be 

 correct. 



On the subsequent day, crossing the plain of the Hacienda de 

 San Jose del Conde, which affords rich pasture to several hun- 

 dred head of cattle, we descended to the river of Huitotillan, a 

 mountain stream running in a ravine probably 800 to 1000 feet 

 lower than the level of the plain. The perpendicular sides present 

 no facilities for a road being made there, we therefore had to 

 pass up the ravine, fording the river eight times, which owing to 

 the late rains was nearly impracticable, as the water reached up 

 to our middles. The vegetation, as far as the small village of 

 Matanejo, where we arrived in the evening, affords little inte- 

 rest at this season. The copsewood covering the sides of the 

 ravines is composed of deciduous leafless shrubs, only relieved 

 by a giant Cereus, forming a singular tree ; this generally has a 

 single stem 2 to 4 feet high, by 1 8 inclies in diameter, when it 

 divides into numerous triangular branches, rising perpendicu- 

 larly to the height of 20 to 30 feet. In May it yields a deli- 

 cious fruit called Pitaya, wlien it is much sought after by the 

 natives. 



Leaving Matanejo early the following morning, we soon 

 entered a forest of oaks ; here I found two species of Epiden- 

 drum, an Oncidium, Odontoglossum, and an Epiphyllum, the 

 latter, like E. Ackermanni, inliabiting trees. Although I have 

 not seen it in flower, yet judging from its broad deeply-cut 

 leaves, or rather stems, it will prove a valuable acquisition to 

 that interesting tribe of plants. 



The timber of the oak does not bear a high character as to 

 durability ; when exposed to the weather it soon rots, and the 

 trees, healthy however they appear to be, are generally hollow 

 in the centre. 



Not seeing any prospect of finding anything to warrant my 

 proceeding further in this direction, I returned to Tepic on the 

 23th. The following day the Aguas nieves set in again, and 

 continued up to the 29th with scarcely any interruption. Hav- 

 ino- made some excursions in the immediate vicinity of Tepic 

 when the weather permitted it, but without finding anything 

 worth noticing, I set out again on the 7th of February for San 

 Bias. Descending by the road usually travelled during the dry 

 season, we arrived in the evening at the farm of La Manuela, 

 situate in a wood of Acacias, Prosopis, Laurus, Palms, Cedar, 

 the Lemon, a species of Citrus, and several species of Ficus, 

 among which there is one sending forth roots which descend into 

 the earth, giving support and nourishment to the numerous far- 

 spreading branches, or sometimes encircling a palm with its 

 stem, thus presenting the singular deception of palm-leaves 



