TWO NIGHTS IX SOUTHERN MEXICO. 93 



mit of the snow-clad mountain. As we gazed, five 

 ten twenty hill-tops were tinged with the same 

 rose-coloured glow ; in another moment they became 

 like fiery banners spread out against the heavens, 

 while sparkling tongues and rays of golden light 

 flashed and flamed round them, springing like 

 meteors from one mountain - summit to another, 

 lighting them up like a succession of beacons. 

 Scarcely five minutes had elapsed since the distant 

 pinnacles of the mountains had appeared to us as 

 huge phantom-like figures of a silvery white, dimly 

 marked out upon a dark star-spangled ground ; now 

 the whole immense chain blazed like volcanoes 

 covered with glowing lava, rising out of the dark- 

 ness that still lingered on their flanks and bases, 

 visible and wonderful witnesses to the omnipotence 

 of Him who said, " Let there be light, and there was 

 light." 



Above, all was broad day, flaming sunlight ; below, 

 all black night. Here and there streams of light 

 burst through clefts and openings in the mountains, 

 and then ensued an extraordinary kind of conflict. 

 The shades of darkness seemed to live and move, to 

 strtiggle against the bright beams that fell amongst 

 them and broke their masses, forcing them down the 

 wooded heights, tearing them asunder and dispersing 

 them like tissues of cobwebs ; so that successively, 

 and as if by a stroke of enchantment, there appeared, 

 first the deep indigo-blue of the tamarinds and chico- 



