66 
noted in the Isthmus for their delightful aspect. The vegeta- 
tion in them is similar, and perhaps even more luxuriant than 
that of the low grounds on the road to Santa Maria. The 
soil and climate are likevi^ise peculiarly adapted to the growth 
of maize, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, rice, and the sugar-cane. 
On the road from Boca de Monte to the Mai Paso the vege- 
tation begins to assume an aspect peculiar to the plains of 
the Coatzacoalcos. The laurus sassafras, the fern tree, an 
infinite variety of palms, and the plants of the tropical re- 
gions already alluded to, united and interwoven with passion 
flowers, and innumerable filamentous reeds, or richly enve- 
loped and crowned by a multitude of exquisitely beautiful 
orchidaciag formed an admirable and subhme spectacle. But 
the peculiar characteristic of these shrubberies is, that the 
plants concealed in the midst of this luxiu-iant vegetation 
appear desirous to reach as soon as possible an elevation where 
they may enjoy the rays of the sun, thus acquiring an extra- 
ordinary height, and their stems being remarkably straight. 
The Sarabia also runs through groves and woods of great 
beauty, the soil of which seems to be waiting only for the 
helping hand of man to yield with profusion the natural 
riches it contains. 
ANIMALS. 
The wdld beast most common in the Isthmus is that which 
is improperly called a tiger by the inhabitants of the Republic, 
it being in reality the ounce (felis uncia) ; after this comes the 
American lion or puma (felis discolor) : they are both nume- 
rous, although they are said never to attack a man, probably 
because they have other prey iji abundance. The ocellots or 
small tiger (leopardus pardaHs), the wild cat, and particularly 
the American fox (vulpcs fulvus) are also very numerous in 
the Isthmus ; but their skins are not turned to any account by 
the natives. 
In every one of the different estates of the Isthmus a tigrero 
(tiger-hunter) is kept, who with a numerous pack of hounds is 
exclusively engaged in destroying the wild beasts which cause 
serious damage among the herds of cattle, notwithstanding 
