SIX MONTHS IX MEXICO. 67 



shingles, in the same manner as the mountain- 

 villages of Norway and the Alps. As we 

 passed from hence, the air became cold, and 

 we observed the first plantation of the aloe 

 or pulque, but other vegetation seemed once 

 more to decline; — the fine prospect was lost; 

 till we ultimately reached the elevation of the 

 Table-land, and found ourselves in a different 

 climate. A large sandy plain, after passing 

 a hacienda, brought us to the town of Perote, 

 which is of considerable extent, having a 

 strong fort on its right. 



Perote is a substantial place, built of stone ; 

 but from the mode in which it is constructed, 

 it has more the appearance of a prison than the 

 usual abode of man, there being scarcely a 

 window or chimney to be seen. The law term 

 familiarly used in England, that "a man's 

 house is his castle/'' is here literally true, as 

 from the state of society and the local situation, 



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