Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/210

196 character of the country, through which he is passing. About two leagues from Las Vigas, there is a district covered with vesicular lava: the ground is strewed as far as the eye can reach with masses of black, calcined rock, the appearance of which evidently announces their volcanic origin. In some places these masses are of an enormous size; in others, they look as if they had been pulverized by some gigantic steam-engine; but in all, it seems as if but a few years had elapsed since the eruption which produced them took place, although not even a tradition with regard to its date is now in existence.

We found the Old Veracruz causeway in a sufficiently good state of preservation between Jălāpă and Lăs Vīgăs, to afford an easy passage even for carriages; the horses and mules, however, suffer exceedingly in the steeper parts of the ascent, from the difficulty of getting a good footing on the hard pavement. After passing through the villages of Lă Crūz dé lă Cūēstă, Lă Hoyă, and Săn Mĭgūēl el Sŏldādŏ, between which we had been taught to expect some picturesque scenery, which the mist prevented us from perceiving, we reached Las Vigas about dusk, where we found very comfortable quarters prepared for us in the house of the Cura, and obtained a sufficiency of fowls to furnish a tolerable supper. No other meat was to be procured in the village, or bread; but our carriages came up in time to supply us with the last, as well as with some