Situation 21 



deadly " vomito," ^ one is glad to leave it to enter 

 the higher, purer atmosphere. Four thousand 

 feet above the ocean level there stretches out 

 another country called "Tierra Templada" or 

 temperate region, whose vegetation represents 

 that of the southern temperate zone. The na- 

 tives grow here their crops of corn and sugar 

 cane, and cattle graze contentedly among the 

 hiUs. 



Pushing farther on, some two hundred miles 

 inland, always climbing higher, brings us to that 

 vast tableland, six thousand feet above the sea, 

 which the Mexicans call "Tierra Fria" or cold 

 region, and whose climate is unsurpassed. 



Cold it seems indeed with the thoughts of 

 Vera Cruz and Tampico still fresh in mind, 

 though the mean temperature both summer and 

 winter averages but 60° Fahrenheit. The air 

 is exceedingly dry, but the daily thunder show- 

 ers during the "rainy season," or summer, keep 

 the vegetation rich and plentiful. 



Across this great plateau lies a chain of vol- 

 canic moimtains whose peaks, covered with 

 eternal snows, cool the level lands below. Far- 

 ther inland, midway between the two oceans, 

 lies the famous Valley of Mexico where stood 

 the ancient cities of Mexico and Tezcuco. The 



»"¥eDow Fever." 



