VERACRUZ — SAN LUIS POTOSl. 317 



height seems to be about sixty. It is composea of chap. xxi\ 

 several stages, of which some are still distinguishable. A cities of the 

 great stair of 57 steps conducts to the truncated summit "ittjudancy. 



The most remarkable cities are Vera Cruz, Perote, 

 Cordoba, and Orizaba. The fii-st of these, the centre 

 of European and West Indian commerce, is beautifully 

 and regularly built ; but it is situated in an arid plain 

 destitute of running water, and partly covered with 

 shifting sand-hills, which contribute to increase the 

 suffocating heat of the air. In the midst of these 

 downs are marshy lands covered with rhizophorae and 

 other plants. No stones for architectural purposes are 

 to be found near the city, which is entirely constructed 

 of coral-rock drawn from the Ijottom of the sea. The 

 water is very bad, and is obtained either by digging in 

 the sandy soil, or by collecting the rain in cisterns. 



Xalapa, the population of which is estimated at 13,000, Xalapa. 

 occupies a very romantic situation at the foot of the 

 basaltic mountain of Macultepec, surrounded by forests 

 of styrax, piper, melastoms, and tree-ferns. The sky 

 is beautiful and serene in summer, but from December 

 to February it has a most melancholy aspect, and 

 ■whenever the north wind blows, is overcast to such a 

 degree that the sun and stars are frequently invisible 

 for two or three weeks together. Some of the merchants 

 of Vera Cruz have country-houses at Xalapa, where 

 they enjoy a cool and agreeable retreat ; while the coast 

 is almost uninhabitable, on account of the intense heats, 

 tlie mosquitoes, and the yellow fever. 



10. The intendancy of San Luis Potosi embraces the san Luis 

 whole nortli^astern part of New Spain, and is extremely ^o^si. 

 diversified in its character. The only portion which is 

 cold and mountainous is that adjoining the province of 

 Zacatecas, and in which are the rich mines of Charcas, 

 Guadalcazar, and Catorce. There is a great extent of 

 low ground, partly cultivated, but for the most part 

 barren and uninhabited. Its coast line is more than 

 794 miles in length ; but hardly any commerce enlivens 

 it, owing to the deficiency of harbours. The mouths of 



