S() SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



houses, and sometimes of charcoal. The 

 greater number generally had their wives and 

 daughters with them; clean, modest-looking 

 women, carrying heavy burthens exclusive of 

 the children usually fastened to their backs. 

 After a descent of several hours through this 

 ever-varying and sublime scenery, to the effect 

 of which a thunder-storm added much ma- 

 jesty, we arrived at a small plain, surrounded 

 on all sides by pine-capped mountains. In 

 the centre of this, in the midst of highly cul- 

 tivated ground, rose the neat little Indian 

 church and village of St. Miguel de los Ran- 

 chos, placed in one of the most delightful 

 situations and lovely climates in the world. 

 On the mountain we might almost have com- 

 plained of cold, but the descent had brought 

 us into a temperature resembling the finest 

 parts of Europe, and our approach to the 

 village just before sun-set brought our native 

 country strongly to our recollection. The 



