The Mountains of the West Indies. 77 
never come to blows — probably being too busily occupied 
with their own internal warfare. 
The mountains which rise in the northern peninsula, 
appear to be a continuation of the " El Cobra" range. 
They traverse the island throughout its greatest length, 
entering the sea, on the southeastern shores, in bold, 
rocky headlands. Still farther north, a smaller and 
isolated chain extends from Monte Christi to the valley 
of the Yuna. There is also a small range on the south 
side of the great central range. The principal chain 
rises, in the interior, into a vast highland tract, whence 
shoot off several little ranges of hills which reach down 
to the coasts in all directions. The central highland 
tract is called the " El Cibao," and contains some of 
the highest peaks in the West Indies, some reaching 
the altitude of 8,6oo ft. In this island, as in Cuba, 
are met with scenes of the wildest grandeur and 
most dreamy loveliness. How the spirit of SHEL- 
LEY, or of MOORE, would here have bathed in light and 
colour as it never did before ; and the fire of 
BYRON'S descriptive genius would have burst into a 
flame of unsurpassed brilliance. Besides valleys and 
plains innumerable, in the centre of the island is an im- 
mense plain, called the Cul-de-Sac, which was, about 
the end of the last century, the centre of flourishing cul- 
tivation, but is now a wilderness of forest and jungle. 
A very inconsiderable portion of this fine island is under 
cultivation now, the greater part being abandoned to 
nature, owing to the political anarchy that prevails. The 
forests are composed of woods of most valuable descrip- 
tions, such as mahogany, lignum-vitae, and cedar. So 
profuse is the growth of the former, that there is a house 
