calans 258

CHAPTER XV.

Down into the Hot Lands.--Wonderful Mountain Scenery.--Parasitic
Vines.--Luscious Fruits.--Orchids.--Orizaba.--State of Vera
Cruz.--The Kodak.--Churches.--A Native Artist.--Schools.--
Climate.--Crystal Peak of Orizaba.--Grand Waterfall.--The
American Flag.--Disappointed Climbers.--A Night Surprise.--
The French Invasion.--The Plaza.--Indian Characteristics.--
Early Morning Sights.--Maximilian in Council.--Difficult
Engineering.--Wild Flowers.--A Cascade.--Cordova.--The Banana.
--Coffee Plantations.--Fertile Soil.--Market Scenes 282

CHAPTER XVI.

The City of Vera Cruz.--Defective Harbor.--The Dreaded and also
Welcome Norther.--San Juan d'Ulloa.--Landing of Cortez.--His
Expedition Piratical.--View of the City from the Sea.--
Cortez's Destruction of his Ships.--Anecdote of Charles V.--A
Sickly Capital.--Street Scenes.--Trade.--The Mantilla.--Plaza
de la Constitucion.--Typical Characters.--Brilliant Fireflies.
--Well-To-Do Beggars.--Principal Edifices.--The Campo Santo.
--City Dwelling-Houses.--The Dark-Plumed Buzzards.--A City
Fountain.--A Varied History.--Medillin.--State of Vera Cruz 301

CHAPTER XVII.

Jalapa.--A Health Resort.--Birds, Flowers, and Fruits.--Cerro
Gordo.--Cathedral.--Earthquakes.--Local Characteristics.--
Vanilla.--Ancient Ruins.--Tortillas.--Blondes in a City of
Brunettes.--Curiosities of Mexican Courtship.--Caged Singing
Birds.--Banditti Outwitted.--Socialistic Indians.--Traces of
a Lost City.--Guadalajara.--On the Mexican Plateau.--A
Progressive Capital.--Fine Modern Buildings.--The Cathedral.
--Native Artists.--A Noble Institution.--Amusements.--San
Pedro.--Evening in the Plaza.--A Ludicrous Carnival.--Judas
Day 320

CHAPTER XVIII.

Santa Rosalia.--Mineral Springs.--Chihuahua.--A Peculiar City.--
Cathedral.--Expensive Bells.--Aqueduct.--Alameda.--Hidalgo's
Prison and his Fate.--Eulalia.--A Large State.--A Grand Avenue
of Trees.--Local Artists.--Grotesque Signs.--Influence of
Proximity to the United States.--Native Villages.--Dangerous
Sand-Spouts.--Reflections on Approaching the Frontier.--
Pleasant Pictures photographed upon th