JUAN VIN AS— ABOVE THE LAGUNA 187 



to the edge of the crater, where the road bent to the left 

 opposite a little cabin which formed a conspicuous land- 

 mark. The country at this upper level was, in elevation 

 and characteristics, not unlike that around Cartago, being 

 used for grazing and agricultural purposes, so we seldom 

 came up here — in fact only four times in all. On three of 

 these visits the clouds obscured the distant panorama, but 

 on the fourth, on March 22, the day was beautifully bright, 

 and when P. reached the rim of the old crater and looked 

 northward the huge masses of Irazu and Turrialba vol- 

 canoes were very little hidden by cloud. It was the first 

 time I had seen them from this place. The whole eastern 

 and southern horizons also were filled with mountains, range 

 after range, the farthest and highest, almost due south, lifting 

 their peaks above a thin layer of white cloud. Seldom have I 

 seen a grander view. In the foreground were the delicate 

 greens of sugar-cane or the darker glossy greens of plantains 

 or coffee; the nearer mountains were clothed with forest 

 of a still darker green, the more distant mountains softening 

 into blue. 



Beyond the crater's rim, a short distance before reaching 

 the village, stood a large two-storied wooden house with 

 spacious verandas, enclosed with glass sashes, on each story. 

 It originally belonged to Don Federico Tinoco, but at the 

 time of our visit was occupied by the Messrs. Cochenour, 

 two Canadians who, in cooperation with the Messrs. Lindo, 

 were engaged in the raising and preparation of sugar and 

 coifee. We enjoyed their hospitality on two occasions, 

 when they showed us their garden, sugar-mill and coffee 

 beneficio. The garden was begun by Don Federico, who 

 imported a number of trees such as palms and northern 

 willows. One of the handsomest plants was an apocynaceous 

 shrub with glossy leaves and large yellow trumpet-shaped 

 flowers, tinted outside with red-brown. 



