134 A NATURALIST IN MEXICO, 



only shade and moisture, and the cHmate does the rest. The 

 flowers of this plant are of a greenish-yellow, touched here 

 and there with white. The pods grow in pairs and are 

 about as large around as one's little finger, and six inches 

 long. The pods are green at first and gradually grow 

 yellow, and then to brown, as they become fully ripe. 

 They are carefully dried in the sun, being touched during 

 the process with palm oil which gives them a soft, glossy 

 effect when they reach the consumer's hands. The 

 quantity shipped from Jalapa is very large, and proves an 

 important source of revenue. It is said that the Totonacs, 

 who dwelt in the region, cultivated this plant, the Aztec 

 nobles being very fond of the fragrant vegetable. Another 

 notable plant which grows here, and from which the town 

 derives its name, is the jalap, an important drug in our 

 medical practice. Near Jalapa are seen the ruins of an 

 ancient town, the builders of which must have attained to 

 a high degree of civilization. They resemble the ruins of 

 Yucatan, and are supposed to have been built at about 

 the same time. 



The atmosphere of Jalapa is always humid, and the 

 town is often overshadowed by clouds which come up 

 from the Gulf of Mexico, heavy with moisture to be pre- 

 cipitated in the form of rain. A sort of "drizzle" prevails 

 here most of the time. 



In the center of the town is situated the old convent 

 of San Francisco, supposed to have been erected by Cor- 

 tez. It was also the birthplace of General Santa Ana, the 

 most noted of Mexican soldiers of fortune. His neglected 

 hacienda is pointed out to all tourists. No man living had 

 a more checkered career, now falling from position only 

 • to reach a greater elevation, from which to be ignomini- 

 ously hurled. 



The natives go about during the day only half clad, 



