Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/221

 mpressive

in such  a  meeting ;  nowhere  does  an  ocean  steamer seem to  sit  so  proudly,  or  lord  it  so  loftily  as  when seen from  another  steamer  at  sea. You wonder  if your  ship  is  as  large  and  as  powerful  as  that.

Crossing the  gulf  of  Tehuantepe'c  we  enter  upon  the hottest part  of  our  journey. Those of  us  who  had dreamed of  tropical  glories,  and  .the  sensuousness  and dolce far  niente  of  a  shadcless  meridian  sun  had,  ere this, had  our  fill,  and  we  could  take  no  further  pleas- ure in them. The apathy  of  overpowering  languor, the curse  satiety,  fell  upon  us;  the  Mexican  coast, along which  we  now  sailed,  panted  beneath  the  heat; its air  was  like  the  breath  of  a  great  beast,  threatenmg suffocation.

Came in  sight  the  open  green  sierras  of  Mexico, then the  harbor  of  Acapulco  where  the  steamer  victu- alled. Ninety miles  from  shore,  abo^e  Punta  Sacri- ficios, the  Mexican  table-land  is  seen  across  the  tierra caliente as  if  near  at  hand. The grandeur  of  the mountains which  rise  to  a  height  of  eight  or  ten  thou- sand feet, calls  from  voj^agers  many  an  exclamation  of surprise  and  admiration. The white  sandy  beach seems eternal  to  those  watching  for  the  entrance  to Acapulco  harbor — a  useless  watch,  for  when  the  ship heads directly  for  the  land,  you  see  nothing  but  a bold,  continuous  coast  line. Even after  passing  the island of  Roquetta  on  the  left,  and  a  bluff  headland  on the  right,  you  wonder  where  the  anchorage  is. A little farther,  however,  and  you  see  some  shipping, and beyond  it  the  fort,  and  then  the  town,  awakened to traffic  by  the  reverberations  of  the  ship's  gun,  which sends its  peals  echoing  among  the  lofty  hills  as  the vessel is  made  fast  to  the  buoy. Now glance  around and you  will  see  neither  place  of  exit  nor  ocean,  but what might  easily  be  taken  for  a  highland  lake. Deep, round, almost  smothered  in  foliage,  and  nestling  at the  feet  of  high  mountains,  the  effect  is  most  pictur- esque. On the  left  of  the  island  as  you  go  in,  there