THE MONTE PENULCO 



59 



the narrow edge of ridges which are occasionally bound- 

 ed by abrupt and horrible declivities, sweeping many 

 hundred feet downward to the edge of the river, must 

 then be surmounted. Here accidents are of frequent 

 occurrence ; and our caution was increased by the sight 

 of a dying mule which had just before fallen from a 

 higher turn of the road to a lower. 



As we continued to climb for nearly two hours, grad- 

 ually rising one hundred feet after another, we became 

 conscious of a change both in the atmosphere and in 

 the surrounding vegetation. Our view began to expand, 

 and to range over a long chain of gracefully moulded 

 mountains, hemming in the valley of the Canada towards 

 its source ; and when, at length, we emerged upon the 

 summit among scattered groups of evergreen oaks and 

 other forest trees, rising from a fresh greensward, we 

 were conscious that we had quitted the tierras calientes^ 

 and had gained the level tierras templadas. 



LETTER IV. 



It is an advantage to have a mind disposed to enjoy- 

 ment, and to feel yourself participating in that temper ? 

 which extracts pleasing sensations out of every situation. 

 I may without arrogance say, in different degrees, per- 

 haps, and from very different impulses, such was the char- 

 acter of each individual of the trio whose footsteps you 

 have good-humouredly, I doubt not, followed thus far. 



We had all, while in the tierras calientes, been struck 

 with the peculiar beauties of that region and its wonder- 

 ful productions ; and revelled, with all due temperance 

 I hope, in the many sources of rational enjoyment there 

 laid before us ; philosophically enduring, if not scorning 

 those annoyances, to which the climate, country, and 

 the rude state of society, unavoidably exposed the trav- 

 eller. 



