766 FINAL JOURNEYS AND WORK. [1885, 
over a near mountain, from the windows of our 
room ; but by going half a mile east the whole comes 
out splendidly. 
Sunday morning we were comparatively quiet, but 
at 3.50 Pp. M. we were off for Cordoba, less than 
an hour distant by rail, and 2,000 feet lower. <A 
queer little town, with only a poor, truly Mexican inn, 
a set of rooms in the single story, all round a patio, 
into which the country diligence drives, and on rear 
side the stables back against the rooms, as Farlow 
found to his discomfort, only a thin wall between his 
room and the horse’s mangers. Tile floors, cot-beds, 
but clean, and the food certainly better than was to be 
expected. 
Fine view of Orizaba. An American, Dr. Russell, 
here, whom I looked up. And he took us to an 
American German, Mr. Fink, who collects Orchids, 
etc., commercially. He took us toa garden, and we 
were going to the river bank and ravine, but, though 
out of season, rain set in, and we came home rather 
wet. 
I fear our afternoon excursion may be lost, but it 
now looks like clearing. The way from Orizaba here 
is magnificent, for mountains, railroad - engineering, 
and culture vegetation. I hope we can get into some 
wild tropical vegetation, but uncertain; can stay here 
only to-morrow at most. We are cut off from news of 
all the world ; little could we get in Mexico city, less 
a ee 
You would be amused, as I have known you to be 
in Italy, at my knack of explaining myself by gesture, 
and so getting on. . .. 
