94) SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



the plantations and gardens of these happy 

 children of nature, who here cultivate their 

 native soil without the interruption of a single 

 white face, and seem scarcely to feel or even 

 to know their humiliating situation. Half an 

 hour's easy ride brought us again to the 

 woods, and to a repetition of the same mag- 

 nificent scenery we had witnessed the day 

 before. In some spots, the height of the trees 

 and the closeness of the foliage over our 

 heads were such as to make it absolutely 

 dark, although the moon still shone with the 

 greatest splendour. Our path was in some 

 places difficult, and we had again to ascend 

 towards the mountain-regions. About sun- 

 rise we reached a more open and cultivated 

 country, and travelled near a rapid river, 

 whose banks were covered with fields of 

 wheat and maize — the prospect from whence 

 is as rich as in any part of Devonshire. 

 Our narrow path, in many places, was so 



