188 



WATER FALLEN AT VERA CRUZ ORIZABA. 



Table showing the fall of water at Vera Cruz in the years from 

 1822 to 1830, both inclusive : 



Years. 



Feet. 



Inches. 



Tenths. 



1822 



13 



1 



5 



1823 



15 



8 



9 



1824 



10 



7 



1 



1825 



20 



6 



4 



1826 1 



5 



4 



4 



1827 2 



21 



2 



8 



1828 



12 



2 



0 



1829 



23 



2 



3 



1830 



17 



1 



4 



The majestic mountain of Orizaba, or Citlaltepetl, the " Moun- 

 tain of the Star," is found within the limits of the State of Vera 

 Cruz, and as it is somewhat renowned in all geographical descrip- 

 tions of this continent, we shall insert the first authentic account of 

 its ascent we have ever seen, which was prepared by Lieutenant 

 W. F. Reynolds, of the United States Topographical Engineers, 

 who, with some friends, reached the lofty peak whilst serving with 

 our army in Mexico. 



" The Peak of Orizaba," says he, "though situated nearly a 

 hundred miles in the interior, is the first land beheld on approaching 

 Vera Cruz from the gulf. Being visible nearly fifty miles at sea, it 

 is the most important land mark to the sailor in these regions. 

 While the command under General Bankhead, which was the first 

 to march from Vera Cruz to the city of Orizaba, was £ en route,' 

 in February, 1848, the mountain being constantly in view, a trip to 

 its summit was frequently discussed ; and after our arrival at that 

 place, the marvellous stories told by the inhabitants only increased 

 our desire to make the attempt. All agreed that the summit had 

 never been reached, though several knew or heard of its being 

 attempted. The difficulties to be encountered were represented as 

 being perfectly insurmountable ; craggy precipices were to be 

 climbed ; gullies, two thousand feet deep, it was said, were to be 

 crossed ; inclined planes of smooth ice were to be ascended ; to say 

 nothing of avalanches, under which, we were assured, all the rash 

 party who made the daring attempt would surely find a grave. 

 These extraordinary stories produced quite a different effect from 

 the one anticipated, and the question was not who would go, but 



1 This year was remarkable for its dryness and the loss of cattle on the coasts in 

 consequence. 



2 In this year the observations include only ten months. 



