Photo by H. Pittier 



Cavanillesia platanifolia, the; cuipo-trj^e; 



The two vertical dark lines are termite tunnels, showing that not even these giants of 

 the tropical forest are safe from the attacks of the destructive white ant. The boy at the 

 left is the author's son and companion. 



in one of the nooks formed by the nar- 

 row gorges leading to the highest sum- 

 mit. Here the temperature goes every 

 night near or below the freezing point, 

 and the cold is very intense to people 

 accustomed to the heat of the lower 

 plains. 



But during the dry season the air is so 

 crisp and pure, the sky so blue, the song 

 of the thrushes and of many other famil- 

 iar little birds so pathetically lovely, and 

 the beautiful surrounding nature so ex- 



hilarating, that one easily forgets small 

 bodily inconveniences to enjoy with full 

 heart the beauty of it all. 



The crater is a circular plain about 

 2,000 feet in diameter, surrounded by a 

 more or less broken ridge that is densely 

 covered with a forest of myrtles, oaks, 

 and less familiar trees. The culminating 

 peak is distant only about two hours' 

 climb, and as one approaches it the arbo- 

 real vegetation becomes more and more 

 stunted and dwarfed, until it completely 



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