lieig;lit«., their vendaut prominences, cultivated ta- 
ble-land, and wooded acclivities, present a scene of 
vegetable riches, nowhere excelled. Besides its 
diversified mountain scenery it combines as Clavi- 
gero says, “ Delicious vales, fertile plains, pictu- 
resque lakes and rivers, romantic cities and villages, 
a union of the trees and vegetables of Europe and 
America.” 
The early inhabitants of this country, were not 
insensible to the importance of its vegetable riches, 
for they worshiped the sun, and offered sacrifices of 
flowers. Their female children they frequently 
named after them; whilst their floating gardens 
seem to have ranked among the wonders of the new 
world. ■ The novelty, however, of these may have 
produced some exaggeration in travellers’ tales ; for 
although extolled as evidence of refinement and 
luxury, they appear to have been the offspring of 
necessity. Vanquished tribes being driven to small 
islands in the lakes, resorted to the expedient of 
floating gardens, to extend their means of producing 
the necessaries of existence. 
If the uncivilized Mexican of ages past could 
thus be attracted by flowers, and offer them as pro- 
pitiatory sacrifices to his deity, surely we, who pos- 
sess the light of truth, and know whence they derive 
their beauty — what hand has made these gems of 
earth, can never look upon them with thoughtless 
apathy. Who is there that will not say with Paley, 
“^If one train of thinking be more desirable than 
another, it is that which l egards the phenomena of 
nature with a constant reference to a supreme in- 
telligent author.” 
