Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-06-07
From the N. o. Picayune.
OF MEXICO.

CoFFRE. DE PEROTE.--A new travel
Ter in Mexico will encounter one scene
OF absorbing interest, should he pass
along the road between Perote and ia
lapa, where a wild and wide region is
thickly strewn with'irremovable eviden-
ces aforementioned volcanic commo-
ion. Leaving JaIapa!for Perote, 1.-The eye
is gratifed for many miles by the ap-
pearance at intervals, of small, pictu-
res que farms and cultivated patches Of
land until the broken and stony country
lringing the base of Cofre de Perote,
cuts eff the pleasanter aspect of the
route, and leaves unboundcd desolation
be fore the eye. Volcanic heaps of
rock, piled in the strangest confusion,
and creating sensations of singular
wonder, mark the prospect in various
directions, and curiosity flies from
baffled inquiry TO demand from imagi-
nation some calculation of the forgot
ten story. The gaze is lifted to the
stupendous cone Of Orizava, towering
in the clouds northward Of the chain,
and from this to the long,extinct volca-
no Of the Cofre de Perote, called so
from the mountain top bearing a rude
resemblance to huge Golfer, and about
which an Indian story is yet extant,
quite symptomatic of It's barbaric orr
gin.
No tourist that we know of has ven
tured upon a speculation as TO how
many centuries may have rolled away
since the awful eruption occurred,
which has left leagues Of earth cover
ed with enduring monuments Of its
work. None can, if one traveller may
judge Of others by the effect upon him
self, point logically TO any distinct pc
Rod of by-gone time, when the great
convulsion may be said TO have taken
place. Reflection but leads TO aston
ishment, had vague pictures of what
the terrible scene must lave been that
left such tracks of devastation behind,
rise before the mental vision Of enthu-
siasm. But many, many hundreds
ofyears must undoubtedly have elaps-
ed since an agitation Of such colossal
magnitude could so direlulIy have
visited this still beautiful region of New
Spain.
This notice ofthe spot would be i'm
perfect should we pass over mention-
ing the Economically located village of
Las Vigas, perched in the tterr0s trias
about 5000 feet above the level of the
Gulf, and towering $500 feet above
Jalapa. 1t is spot to rivet the trav-
eller with admiration and pleasure
The toilsome journey along the sleeps
and round the precipitous windings
Of the mountain road, thus relieved
by spot of civilized habitation and
natural beauty, unGailingly leaves warm
and lasting impression upon thinking
observer. The alpine site of Las Vi
gas invests it with thousand charms
indescribable in words, but Of such en-
claiming interest TO lovers Of the pic
uresque and romantic, that they can
NOT approach the scene without a start
or leave it without a sigh.
Its in close vicinity with this noun
tain settlement that the course of the
road brings into immediate observation
the remarkable characteristics we have
named, surrounding huge flank of
Coffre de Perote. Volcanic deposits
of all kinds strew the country for miles
and leagues around. Deep beds Of
black and charred stone, vast sections
of scorai, foods of dark lava, like al
adamantine liquid, coating the surface
Of the mountain, and still further indi-
cations Of the same kind, impossible
to compress into the limits of our ram
dom recollections Of travel. For a
time the scene presents what seems
TO be an interminable stretch of stu
pendous desolation. The conjecture
is irresistible that myriads Of living
aboriginaIs may have been hurried in
to luturity by this tremendous throe of
Nature. Ponderous hills Of rock are
formed, evidently by avalaDches from
the cone above, and the now rigid sea
Of lava would indicate that the huge
bulks ofstone once sailed down upon
that fiery stream, transparent with neat,
and light as chip upon the wave.-
The scene is indescribab!y imposing
and in viewing it the mind receives
impressions of widest awe and won
der. The heart Of the mountain seems
to have been spiinIered and riven and
flung forth from its gaping crater, in
myriads Of fragments, countless as the
sands Of the sea, and Of every shape
and size, from the pebble to embed
ded hills of stone, hundreds of tons in
weight. Near Perote lies a mammoth