XII. CORA AND KRONOS. 237 



upon a smooth bed of verdure. Between the 

 tropics, the strength and luxury of vegetation give 

 such a development to plants, that the smallest 

 of the dicotyledonous family become shrubs.* It 

 would seem as if the liliaceous plants, mingled 

 with the gramina, assumed the place of the flowers 

 of our meadows. Their form is indeed striking ; 

 they dazzle by the variety and splendour of their 

 colours ; but, too high above the soil, they disturb 

 that harmonious relation which exists among the 

 plants that compose our meadows and our turf. 

 Nature, in her beneficence, has given the landscape 

 under every zone its peculiar type of beauty. 



" After proceeding four hours across the savan- 

 nahs, we entered into a little wood composed of 

 shrubs and small trees, which is called El Pejual ; no 

 doubt because of the great abundance of the ' Pejoa,' 

 (Gaultheria odorata,) a plant with very odoriferous 

 leaves. The steepness of the mountain became 

 less considerable, and we felt an indescribable 

 pleasure in examining the plants of this region. 

 Nowhere, perhaps, can be found collected together 

 in so small a space of ground, productions so 

 beautiful, and so remarkable in regard to the 



* I do not see what this can mean. Primroses and cowslips can't 

 become shrubs ; nor can violets, nor daisies, nor any other of our pet 

 meadow flowers. 



