The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-05-22

next stream, about thirty miles from vera
Cruz, is iordable, and is also spanned by |
wooden bridge called Puenta del Rey THE
Kings Bridget and also the natural bridge.
Near il, on the right, is an eminence ofabout
sixty feet, on which is a fort, completely CONF
handing the approach and the bridge. Be
tween these bridges and Jalapa, the road
passes near several heights, from which the
natives can annoy invaders on the road,
CITY OF JALAPA.
This city stands on very elevated ground
yet for many miles the ascent is quite gradu=
AL From the city Vera Cruz is visible, as is
also the sea, ninety miles distant. The city
itself is upon high hill-highest in the CEN
ire, so that the streets INCLINE considerably;
so much so, that no wheeled vehicle can pass
along any of them except the main street, or
road, which has considerable rise and de-
scent. The city is surrounded by IA wall, and
has a strongly built church near the western
gate, which could be converted into cita-
del. The streets are paved. The houses, us
in other Mexican towns, are of stone, with
fiat roofs and iron barred windows. Oppo-
site the CITY, on the left of the road, is n hill.
from which the road might be annoyed, and
shells thrown into the town; the road IL n
handsome and substantial structure OF check
cred pavement and must have been very cost
". The city is to he the head quarters of
Halls otthe MonteZumus.
PEROTE AND ITS CASTLE.
At the base of high mount, bearing the
the same name, some distance from the road
on the left is a cluster of houses, with II
church called Perute. Opposite, on the right
ofthe road, and commanding II in every di-
recton stands the castle. IL is upon fiat
sandy plain, strongly built of stone and encir-
cled by n deep dry iOsse or ditch. The mnln
entrance is by going over cherdlEr de tI7z by
a style, descending some twenty five or thirty
stone steps TO the bottom of the tosse, and
crossing il the gates, which are on ieYei
with the bottom. The population of Perote
is estimated ut 5000 souls: II IS a fine little
city, the houses generally are of one story,
built of stone and covered with terraces; the
principal street is remarkably fine, the 9th
ers arc wide and paved. Dn market day 1t
is really astonishing TO see the great variety
of the best fruits of Europe and ofthe tropics,
piled round the square. ON leaving Perote
you pass through extensive plantations OF
Mague Aloes.
CITY OF PUEBLA.
! This city is walled and fortified. IL is
/ built of stone and the streets are we'll paved.
| Here water is abundant. but from the nation
al bridge to this city no water can he obtain
ed the natives substituting pgLqIie as a bever-
] uUG. L rom JuluDu 10 utbiu tllGIO al hSNH-
sionally heights near the road, which, if for
titled might annoy invaders. In fact, from
| yeru Cruz to Puebla this is the case-the
! travel being alternately over broad, unob-
structed roads and narrow passes, command
ed by heights. The road passed through
T Puebln The Pueblanos have particular
character; they are cunning aud courageous,
and the most expert robbers and assassIns
throughout Mexico, where there Is 40 lack
l.
/ Alcalde, any where else. and is known or as
certained TO be Il Pueiiano, his condemnation
| is sure. Pueblo is situated at the extremity
! ola very large plain, on the Vera Cruz side;
its population is estimated at $4,000, the streets
are parallel and very wide and well paved
! the houses, built with stone and covered with
terruces. and two and three story high, are
remarkably fine. The public plaza would be
admired in any part of the world-it forms
perfect square: facing it stands the cathedral:
on three other sides are magnificent paluces.
There are many other editices striking for
their beauty. There are few churches in the
world more richly and ulagnifcently ornu-
mented than the cathedral of this city. All
the chandeliers and lamps, which are in great
numbers. are ofInasslve gold or silver, the
dome is in marble of the country, of great
beauty and fine workmanship. There are
ten chapels, richly decorated, and closed each
ofthem with an iron CRATE door Ofvery great
height and fthe finest finish. This church
was finished in 1903, aud is SAID to have cost
S6.OOO.OO0. There are also many other YER
fine churches. The Almeida, or public
| walk is very well kept. It's composed OF
three alleys (of 500 to 600 feet each) of pop
lars and other fine trees. and IS surrounded
by wall, at the foot of which runs fine
| little stream Ofwater. There are a good ma
nv fountains i'll different parts OF the city, and
a few lets dean. or water spouts. Few cities
/ ia Europe are finer than Pueba; but much
cannot be said for the population, which since
the late expulsion of the European Spaniards
who were bv far the most intelligent and in
| dustrious portion of it, leaves curious con-
trast between the present occupants ofpub-
! lie and private edifices, in dcating the highest
! state of civilization. The same may be said
ofthe whole population bordering the road
| from Vera Cruz to the city. Time VIII no
doubt correct this.
CORDOVA.
A small walled and garrisoned town,
through which the rond passes. Beyond Pu-
ebIa the road is good till it reaches the noun
tain of Cordova, about midway between the
former and the city OF Mexico, where the as
cent is very rugged and steep, though With
out defiles. Near the road, ut the loot OF this
i mountain, passes the Rio Frio, or Cold River
which had its rise in the neig hborlng noun
tain of PopoGatapetl, 1900 feet above the
level of the sea. 4 work on some of the
heights of Pqpacatapetl would command the
road After leaving the mountain of Cordo-
VA. the road is good and unobstrucred, with
pIentv of water TO the city of Mexico. For
several miles before reaching that city the
road is delightful, passing between parallel
| conoIs and rows of Ionbnrdy poplars. This