78 A NATURALIST IN MEXICO, 



amples of arboreal growth, many of them being over a 

 hundred feet high, and running up as straight as an arrow. 

 The ground was covered with pine kneedles, making a floor 

 as soft as velvet, and the odor was delicious. 



At a height of 10,750 feet, we halted for lunch, and to 

 give the burros a rest. The thermometer here registered 

 GS'^ Fahr. , and the air was quite chilly. We must have pre- 

 sented a rather wild appearance, dressed as we were in all 

 manner of costumes, with the natives in their white pants 

 and jackets and wide brimmed sombreros, with revolvers 

 sticf^ing from their belts ! After a half hours rest we again 

 proceeded up the mountain. Now and then we caught 

 glimpses of the world below, with its valleys, towns, and 

 clouds. The up-grade soon became terrific, and the burros 

 could hardly carry us along. Evidences of volcanic action 

 now appeared on every hand, in the shape of huge blocks 

 of lava, and cinders. Here the vegetation began to thin 

 out, the pines disappearing, but the spruces still keeping 

 on, though the trees were smaller ?nd less numerous than 

 lower down. The Sierra Negra was seen on our right, and 

 through a cleft in the mountains we caught occasional 

 glimpses of the peak. Another level plain was crossed, a 

 stony path ascended, and then a full and magnificent view 

 of the peak burst upon our sight. 



We made our camp, for the night, on a ledge jutting 

 from the side of the mountain. Here we prepared our sup- 

 per, and endeavored to spend a comfortable night. As the 

 sun set the cold became intense, and our thick blankets 

 were scarcely adequate to keep us from suffering severely 

 from the low temperature. Nothing occurred to disturb 

 our rest, save the howling of coyotes and the uneasiness of 

 the burros in their cramped quarters. Our camp was at an 

 altitude of over 13,000 feet, and as yet none of us ex- 

 perienced any difficulty from the rarified atmosphere. 



