SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 187 



The general aspect of the country, in this 

 clay's excursion, reminded me strongly of the 

 finest parts of Devonshire ; but the hills are 

 smaller, more diversified, and clothed with 

 trees, shrubs, and flowers, in such endless 

 variety, that no part of Europe can vie with 

 it. In our short ride we passed over fertile 

 plains covered with fields of the finest maize 

 (now nearly ripe), and studded with Indian 

 cottages; through deep sombre woods com- 

 posed of the noblest and most picturesque 

 trees, — lofty pines and oaks, with the tree 

 that produces the liquid amber, and the 

 elegant fern tree, with its waving, light, 

 feathery branches (nine or ten feet long), 

 formed a conspicuous part. We crossed 

 several streams of water, which, rushing 

 over rocks far beneath us, added much to the 

 beauty of the scene. The whole country is 

 of volcanic origin, and we passed several 

 small craters, now covered with rich soil and 



