189S 
Las Vigas 
This place, although about the same altitude as Perote and only a 
few miles east along the same mountain base (north slope of Cofre), has 
a much damper climate than Fercte. Day after day the clouds came roll¬ 
ing up the canons from the low country,swept over the crest ana melted 
away on the adjacent plain leaving a cloudless sky at Perote. The added 
humidity of the locality is also shown by the presence of a species of 
pine with long drooping leaves not found before. In wet weather the 
branches and long slender needles hang down with much of the effect of 
a weeping willow. In addition, a great number of small flowering plants 
occur,- far more than I have seen at any other place in the country. 
Outcropping stones are covered with large lichens, and mosses form a 
cushion on many banks and hill slopes under the trees. 
Formerly all this border of the tableland here was covered by un¬ 
broken pine forest which extended from the wooded slopes of the Cofre 
away through northern Puebla and eastern Hidalgo. Much of it has now 
been cleared in the neighborhood of the town and corn, wheat, barley, 
and potatoes are raised, with some magueys. Almost daily rains occurred 
during ray visit which was in the midst of the rainy season. 
This locality is underlaid by lava and some craters are found in the 
vicinity. One called the Volcanoillo opens on the border of the descent 
to the SE above Las Vigas. It is several hundred yards across and about 
250 to 400 feet deep and almost inaccessible. From it a great outflow 
of lava poured over the surrounding slopes and the currents and wrinkles 
of the fluid lava still remain very evident on the surface which is 
covered with scattered pines. 
A small, very irregular, tunnel-like cave leads from one side of the 
orater wall down the slope of the mountain. An entrance to this can be 
had just below the crater and I penetrated into it for some distance 
hoping to get some bats which have been found there at times. Unfortun- 
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