9 



nate the limits of the ancient coast ; and to 

 prove, as we have already observed, that the 

 hills, of which we went along the southern side, 

 formed heretofore a small island, separated from 

 the continent by an arm of the sea. 



After walking two hours, we arrived at the 

 foot of the high chain of the interior moun- 

 tains, which stretches from the east to the 

 west ; from the Brigantine to the Cerro de San 

 Lorenzo. There, new rocks appear, and with 

 them another aspect of vegetation. Every ob- 

 ject assumes a more majestic and picturesque 

 character ; the soil, watered by springs, is fur- 

 rowed in every direction ; trees of gigantic lofti- 

 ness, and covered with lianas, rise from the 

 ravins ; their bark, black and burnt by the dou- 

 ble action of the light and the oxygen of the 

 atmosphere, forms a contrast with the fresh ver- 

 dure of the pothos and dracontium, the tough 

 and shining leaves of which are sometimes se- 

 veral feet long. The parasite monocotyledones 

 take between the tropics the place of the moss and 

 lichens of our northern zone. As we advanced, 

 the forms and grouping of the rocks reminded 

 us of the scenes of Switzerland and the Tyrol. In 

 these American Alps, the heliconia, costus, ma- 

 ranta, and other plants of the family of the bali- 

 siers (canna indica), which near the coasts vege- 

 tate only in damp and low places, flourish here 

 at considerable height. Thus in the torrid zone, 



