TO PARRAS. AS] 
ous heaps of stones with crosses, together with many 
fresh graves by the road side, reminded us of the prox- 
imity of the savage and of the murders he had com- 
mitted. On both sides of the road, three or four miles 
distant, ran chains of mountains. After a gradual 
ascent of ten miles, we saw beneath us a broad valley ; 
and upon the right of this, at the base of the moun- 
tains, lay the town of Parras. The whitened walls of 
its houses, its steeples, and the long rows and clusters 
of cotton-wood trees, presented an agreeable contrast 
to the bold rugged mountains in the back-ground. 
Until quite near the town, the plain is barren and not 
susceptible of cultivation. 
It was after sunset when we entered the place, 
and we at once drove toa sort of caravanserai, which 
we entered with the whole train. The mules were 
placed in acorral adjoining. Four of us quartered 
ourselves in a small apartment in the court, the rest 
remained in tents. 
VOL. I1.—31 
