188 



SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



the finest vegetation. We observed many 

 new and showy birds, and the air absolutely 

 swarmed with myriads of the most splendid 

 butterflies. A gentle progress of two hours 

 brought us to the village, situated in a plain ; 

 we had entered it some time without per- 

 ceiving it, the houses being so enveloped by 

 the gardens with which they are surrounded, 

 and the luxuriance of the^ foliage such as 

 almost to exclude them from sight. Lemons, 

 oranges, avocatas, and sapotas were the com- 

 mon fences of this village, which supplies a 

 great portion of the markets of Xalapa. 

 When we arrived in the principal street, 

 which is of considerable length and leads to 

 the square or plaza, where the houses are 

 not surrounded with trees like the others, 

 we found the whole place alive and crowded 

 with people, anxiously waiting to catch a 

 sight of their favourite and popular chief. 

 The street had numerous rustic triumphal 



