HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



17 



fnow, fcattered here and there through the country of 

 Anahuac 5 the cool winds which breathe from them in 

 that feafon ; and the fliorter ftay of the fun upon the 

 horizon, compared with the circumftances of the tem- 

 perate zone, transform the fummer of thofe happy 

 countries into a cool and cheerful fpring. 



But the agreeablcnefs of the climate is counterbalan- 

 ced by thunder florms, which are frequent in fummer, 

 particularly in the vicinity of Matlalcueje or the moun- 

 tain of Tlafcala, and by earthquakes which at all times 

 are felt, although with lefs danger than terror. Thefe 

 firfl: and lafl effects are occafioned by the fulphur and 

 other corabuflible materials, depofited in great abun- 

 dance in the bowels of the earth. Storms of hail 

 are neither more frequent nor more fevere than in 

 Europe. 



The fire kindled in the bowels of the earth by the 

 fulphureous and bituminous materials, has made vents 

 for itfelf in fome of the mountains or volcanos, from 

 whence flames are often feen to iffue, and aflies and 

 fmoke. There are five mountains in the dif{:ri6t of the 

 Mexican empire, where at different times this dreadful 

 phcenomenon has been obferved. Pojauhtecatl^ called 

 by the Spaniards, Volcan d'Orizaba^ began to fend forth 

 fmoke, in the year 1545, and continued to do fo for 

 twenty years : but after that, for the fpace of more 

 than two centuries, there has not been obferved the 

 fmallefl fign of burning. This celebrated mountain, 

 which is of a conical figure, is indifputably the highell 

 land of all Anahuac 5 and on account of its height, is 

 the firfl land defcried by feamen who are fleering that 

 Vol. I. C way. 



