CARTAGO. 



391 



hills, and burst into the plain, about five 

 leagues distance from Cartago, where, at 

 night, it is sometimes so cold as to require 

 two or three blankets to keep one warm. In 

 the plain behind these hills, the Juez Politico 

 is inclined to think that corn would grow 

 abundantly, as the soil is very rich, and the 

 climate temperate, inclining to cold. 



After my return, I had long accounts from 

 Don Luis of the revolution in these parts ; and 

 some of the descriptions of the actions gained 

 by the patriots really staggered belief, so much 

 did they savour of the marvellous ; but they 

 were so well and universally attested, that to 

 doubt the veracity of my host would have 

 been impossible. The emancipation of this 

 country seemed foredoomed and favoured by 

 Heaven; for under circumstances the most dis- 

 advantageous, and in emergencies the most 

 distressing, some unexpected and miraculous 

 incidents occurred, which gave victory to the 

 Republicans, and defeated every effort of the 

 Royalists. 



Don Luis enquired if 1 knew Baron Hum- 

 boldt, (who, like myself, had resided in his 

 house for a time ;) and was sorry that I could 

 not give him any particular information of this 



