38 



CENTRAL AMERICA. 



viously found good nourishment. This weed 

 perfectly resembles a tall strong nettle, but, 

 instead of stinging, it emits a rather fragrant 

 smell when crushed in the hand ; it is worse 

 than useless, as cattle will not touch it, and 

 it grows again directly when dug or turned 

 up, thus occupying the ground to the exclu- 

 sion of any other plant : it is not found on 

 the hills, where sacate grows, or in the forest, 

 but mostly on old cleared lands, savannahs 

 near towns, or spots that had long ago been 

 prepared for maize or indigo. 



The cattle and the deer in the wilds suf- 

 fered much, and great numbers were found 

 dead near the rivers. The foliage of the 

 trees, which for some months in the year 

 forms the principal part of their food in the 

 forest, was completely destroyed, and many 

 animals died afterwards from starvation. 

 Some years elapsed before the country even 

 partially recovered, but no time can repair 

 the damage done to the grasses. 



At the foot of the mountains, where the 

 flat forest begins to break into openings and 

 undulating hills, the most valuable timber is 

 to be met with. On the plains and near the 

 coast huge quantities of gigantic trees spread 

 their enormous branches on every side, but 



