80 



ON THE TOl'OOIiAI'HY AND GEOLOGY 



pearance was proof abundant that the chmate is not inimical to the plant. This tree 

 must be of very great age because, not only do its size and general appearance indi- 

 cate it, but a gentleman now over fifty years old told me that he remembered it an 

 old tree in full bearing while he was a very little boy. 



Directly north of Azua there is a great mass of mountains lying east of the 

 Constanza Pass and northwest of Maniel, entirely uninhabited and practically un- 

 known. We have penetrated it for short distances from various directions, but in 

 the absence of all trails or guides, and in view of the almost impassable character of 

 the jungle with which it is clothed I have not dared to attempt to cross it. On 

 Schomburgk's map are placed several peaks in this region to which we obtained bear- 

 ings, but I have never been able to ascertain how he obtained the data for the heights 

 attached to them. So far as I can learn, after careful inquiry, he did not ascend them 

 or even get so near to them as we did ; and I cannot believe that Loma Tina is as 

 high as his figures make it. So far as an eye estimate will warrant me in the ex- 

 pression of an opinion, I do not think it so high as the peak of the Yaqui, although 

 it is certainly a high mountain. It is a long slope ending in a point from which 

 the opposite side descends precipitously. It is surrounded by many other points 

 a2:)proaching it in height, say over 6,000 feet, so that it is not so prominent, nor so 

 imposing an object as the silver-capped " Rucillo," the father of the two Yaquis. 



Unfortunately, the disturbed political condition of the region towards the Haytien 

 frontier, including all or nearly all of the country to the west and northwest of Azua, 

 has prevented us extending our investigations in that direction. Accompanied by 

 Mr. Pennell, I have made a single journey across the Constanza pass, emerging on 

 the south side, almost in view of San Juan ; Mr. Pennell had previously visited the 

 same part, and afterwards made a boat-journey along the whole coast to the Haytien 

 line at the mouth of Rio Pedernales, including a visit to Beata and Alta Yela Islands. 

 There trips, meagre as they were, gave us all the information we possess, beyond what 

 can be culled from common report and the maps of our predecessors. I have not 

 hesitated to follow the map of Sir Robert Schomburgk in detail, in this region, as well 

 as to copy the whole of Hayti from the same source, since I found that this map is 

 excellent in its main features ; very much better than could have been expected, con- 

 sidering the circumstances under which it was made ; and have consequently availed 

 myself of it in this, the only region where our own work did not extend. 



For information in regard to the character of the San Juan Yalley, I am mainly 

 indebted to His Excellency, President Baez, who has frequently described this region 

 to me in most enthusiastic terms. From the road between Constanza and Azua, there 

 can be seen a broad valley extending to the northwest as far as the eye can reach, 



