CONCEPTION. 



concealed by the dark green mangroves ; these 

 however sufficiently point out its course, and 

 lead the eye to the white specks which beauti- 

 fully mark the site of the higher buildings of the 

 town of Iguaracu, peeping out among the vast 

 expanse of wood of a lighter green, which reaches 

 as far as the eye can compass. To the left is a 

 narrow and deep dell, bounded on the opposite 

 side. by a ridge of rising ground of equal height 

 with that upon which the town is situated. Be- 

 hind is the flat plain, which runs along the hill 

 to the distance of one league ; it is in places 

 much contracted and in others spreads widely. 



The town of Conception was formerly fortified; 

 the three sides upon which it is enclosed by the 

 steep declivity to be ascended in reaching it, 

 have been rendered still more precipitate, even 

 than they would naturally have been, as they 

 are cut perpendicularly to the height of twelve 

 feet, presenting a wall of earth to those who 

 ascend the hill, and as the soil is a stiff clay, and 

 the passing and repassing not considerable, the 

 paths which have been formed through the wall 

 are still exceedingly steep. On the fourth side, 

 entrenchments were made across the plain upon 

 the summit of the hill; these were shown to me; 

 for it was necessary that they should be pointed 

 out, as they were almost concealed by the brush- 

 wood ; and even large trees which were growing 

 in them. Upon one spot, on the quarter nearest 



