SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 209 



cooling for a few minutes, our flambeaus of 

 torchwood were lighted ; we entered the 

 cavern and were greatly disappointed in our 

 object, as the cave, though the wonder of 

 the neighbourhood, did not repay us for the 

 labour of climbing to it. It was in a rock of 

 limestone of no great size or depth : — some 

 large mutilated pieces of stalactite on the 

 floor and low roof had been magnified into 

 statues and gods; the rest was all imagi- 

 nation, and we soon prepared to return to the 

 place where we had left our horses. Mexico is 

 not the country of caverns, and therefore this 

 trifling den is esteemed a miracle, whilst the 

 really curious valley we passed in our way to 

 it, being every day before the eyes of the 

 natives, excites no surprise, and is never men- 

 tioned. Round the mouth of the cave, and in 

 our descent towards it, we noticed many fine 

 trees, different from any we had yet seen : 

 one was very remarkable, the stem of which 



VOL. II. p 



