GUATEMALA. 
114 
right bank of the light-green river which did not half fill 
its bed ; the cultivated fields around; far in the distance 
the volcanic cone of Tajumulco, — the first we had seen, 
a token that we had left the limestone mountains of 
the Atlantic, and were looking on the fire-fountains of 
the Pacific coast, — all these and so much more in this 
grand view before us. We hardly noted the contour, the 
lines, the masses, — all that we could trust to the ivory 
plate that should carry it away ; but the vivid colors in 
that clear atmosphere, the marvellous tints of forest, sky, 
and river, no photographic art could carry away, and we 
must enjoy it now by ourselves. The town was five 
miles away, and three thousand feet below us; and the 
descent was very difficult, owing to the sharp bits of 
quartz in the path. In the valley we came upon the 
huge cylindrical cacti ( Cereus ) used in fencing. Jocote- 
trees were abundant, but the small yellow fruit decidedly 
inferior. Sugar-cane grew to some extent in gardens, 
but fruits and vegetables were scarce. On the trees and 
fences hung a light-blue convolvulus, — the most attractive 
color I ever saw; and this with a smaller white one 
brought the number of the “ morning-glories ” we had 
found so far to ten species. 
Women were bathing in a spring near the road; the 
men seem never to bathe in public. Over the river was 
a bridge of six piers with simple hewn logs laid be¬ 
tween them, no plank or rail of any kind, although 
the bridge was high and the current, even in ordinary 
stages of the water, very strong. As our bestias did 
not hesitate, we of course crossed with them. A short 
distance up stream were two brick and stone arches of 
a more ancient bridge extending from the town side. 
