105 



feature of the mesaon the way f rom Bocoyna is thegreat Barranca of the 

 Urique river; one approaches it through level forest to the very edge of 

 the chasm, -where it beuds suddenly from E. N. E. to S. S. W. The sides 

 are a series of vertical precipices, formed by the edges of the different 

 lava flows. connected by steep slopes of detritus covered with vegetation 

 suited to the elevation; for the descent to the stream being 4500 feet, ba- 

 nanas, oranges, and cacti -will grow at the bottom wherever there is room 

 for them. while there is frost nearly every night on the top; and yetasto- 

 ne dropped from the edge of the mesa would, in many places, fall and roll 

 all the -n-ay to the river. Fnrther up, the cañón contracts to a chasm so na- 

 rrow that it could be bridged at the top, but here it is a couple of miles 

 wide. 



Here aüd there in this región one comes across cave-d-wellings of Ta- 

 rahumari Indians, a priraiti ve race of fine physique; they are of a dark cop- 

 per red colonr, with long coarse black hair reaching to the shoulder, and 

 confined by a fiUet round the forehead. They are very shy and retiring, 

 living by their own tribal customs, and making their own pottery, clo- 

 thing, and arms, without intercourse with white men. As they are not a 

 warlike race, their continued existence and individuality is due to the ex- 

 treme inaccessibility and poverty of the country; but in power of endu- 

 ring cold and fatigue, and performing very long marches with no pro- 

 visión but a little parched corn, few hill tribes could compete with them. 

 After passing the Cerro de Coroibo the track visits some large caves on 

 a high part of the mesa where water can always be found; elsewhere the 

 sources are so f ar apart that it is desirable to have a guide with local know- 

 ledge, to avoid the discomfort of a waterless camp; forage is also so scar- 

 ce that corn raust be cairied for the mules. There is a numerous group of 

 grotesque rock-pillars near this place. 



The ground here commences to slope down with a more broken hi- 

 lly surface toward.s the tierras templarlas, at an elevation of 5000 to 6000 

 feet; the tongues of table-land reaching out between river valleys are ca- 

 lied cordones, and their level tops enjoy a delightful and invigorating cli- 

 mate; températe crops and fruits do well here, and the little towns were gay 

 with peach blossoms in March. 



Leaving Temorís, a place on the right side of the Septentrión river, 

 we descend to a small ranche at the bottom of the valley, where an arti- 

 ficial water-course irrigates some terraces planted with oranges; there is 

 hardly any level ground, fort the steep sides of the V-shaped valley near- 

 ly every where Bweep directly into the stream. Here, mineral veins, which 

 are uncommon in the upper trachyte beds, begin to appear, and there is a 

 large mine cióse by at Realito. Now, ascending to the crest of the left 

 bank at Pandura, the first view of the foot hilLs is obtained; they lie ex- 



R«TÍiU (1900-lDOlJ— 14. 



