208 



JOURNEY ACROSS 



ascending for the last two days, and have, we 

 hope, taken leave of these nuisances for a 

 long time ; as they confine themselves chiefly 

 to the low wet plains which we have left be- 

 hind us* 



We started at sunrise this morning, with a 

 fine fresh keen air in our faces. Our route 

 was over a still more undulating surface than 

 that of yesterday, with the Sierra of Cordova 

 right before us, and the grass looking quite 

 green and luxuriant. The climate now has 

 become excellent — better, I think, than that of 

 Italy. The air, both in the morning and the 

 evening, is quite dry and bracing, and the 

 never failing breeze, which prevails during the 

 day, renders the sun less intolerable. The 

 little horses here must be indebted to the 

 climate for their surprising vigour ; for though 

 they are ridden under every disadvantage, 



