CHAPTER XXI. GENERAL FEATURES OF CENTRAL AMERICA.-MEXICO.-GUATEMALA.-WEST INDIAN ISLANDS. There, groves that bloom in endless spring Are rustling to the radiant wing Of birds, in various plumage bright Oft as sea-breezes blow.-WILSON. CENTRAL America, properly so called, consists of an extended strip of land, stretching from north-west to southeast, separating the waters of the Atlantic from those of the Pacific, and connecting the two vast peninsulas of North and South America. The natural limits of this territory, are marked, on the one hand, by the narrowest part of the isthmus of Panama, and on the other, by the isthmus of Tehuantepec. As, however, the physical features of the extensive territory of Mexico agree in many particulars with those of this portion of the New World, that region may be advantageously considered in the same division; in which we shall also place the large and important assemblage of islands, included under the general name of the West Indies. The grand central mountain range, which in North America bears the name of the Rocky Mountains, and in South America, that of the Andes, may be traced through the whole of Mexico and Central America, but does not, in any part of these regions, attain the lofty elevation, to which it rises in those vast and extensive mountain systems. In Mexico, the central line is continued in an elevated plateau, which constitutes the highest portion of the ridge, being on an average about seven thousand feet above the level of the sea, and extending from one extremity of Mexico to the other. This plateau is traversed, nearly at right angles, by a chain of active volcanos, some of which are of great elevation, and which extend from east to west. Mexico, owing to its geographical position, and also to the peculiar configuration of its surface, presents some remarkable features in its natural productions. The most elevated parts of its high table land, are absolutely devoid of vegetation. This is not, however, attributable to its altitude, and consequent low temperature; its elevation not being sufficient to produce this effect, in the parallel in which it is situated; but is apparently caused by its want of moisture, which in great measure arises from the porous nature of the rocks. The surface is also covered with a saline efflorescence, which increases its unfitness for vegetation. As soon, however, as any slopes occur, a more humid climate prevails, and these districts are adorned with vegetation of extreme variety and beauty. The central portion of the plateau is traversed by numerous valleys, the wide basins of which are usually not more than one thousand feet above the level of the sea. In the more elevated parts of these valleys, the steep declivities are occupied by forests of pine, oak, and beech, whilst the basins are adorned with the graceful foliage of the palm, and other tropical plants. And thus, the traveller, passing down one of these magnificent ravines, finds himself almost suddenly transported from the midst of the productions of temperate climes, to those of the torrid zone. The assemblage of the animal productions belonging to different climates-to alpine regions, and to the tropics, to North and South America-which occurs in this region, is yet more striking. "Here may be seen, says Dr. Richardson, "wolves of northern aspect, dwelling in the vicinity of monkeys; humming-birds returning periodically from the borders of the frozen zone, with the northern buntings and soft-feathered titmice, to nestle with parrots and couroucuis; our common European whistling duck, shoveller, and teal, swimming in lakes, which swarm with sirens; and wherein the northern phaleropes seek their food, in company with Brazilian parras and boat-bills; associations which occur in no other region of the earth.” Mexico is rich in mineral deposits; iron, copper, lead, and mercury, occur in some parts; and gold is also met with; but the most celebrated deposits are the silver mines, which are about three thousand in number. The mean annual produce of the latter, is estimated at 1,500,000 lbs.; a quantity considered equal to two-thirds of the silver annually obtained from the whole of the earth's surface. The vegetation of Mexico includes many North American species; but its flora has, on the whole, a greater similarity to that of South America. Thus, in the valleys, we meet with the caoutchouc tree, the cow-tree, the banana, vanilla, agave, or American aloe (fig. 168), &c. The most characteristic feature, however, of the Mexican flora, is the vast abundance of plants of the cactus kind, the latter succulent plants being adapted to flourish in the more arid districts. From the agave, or American aloe, called also the maguey, the natives prepare a fermented liquor, called pulque. This plant, though growing on the most arid spots, where scarcely any of 66 sap soil covers the rocks, is remarkable for the enormous supply it yields, of which the pulque is made. This sap, or honey," as it is termed, is obtained by cutting out the central, or flowering shoot, at the same time leaving the outside leaves to form a cup. Into this receptacle, the abundant sap designed to nourish the flower, rises in great quantities, and, being set to ferment, it forms the pulque. From the fibres of the leaves of the agave, was made the paper on which the ancient Mexicans painted their hieroglyphics. Many of the half-hardy plants which adorn our gardens, are natives of the temperate regions of Mexico; and among these the dahlia holds a conspicuous place. Barley and rye succeed on the higher lands; and the wheat of Mexico is considered to excel that of all other countries, whilst maize arrives at the greatest perfection in the valleys. The banana, however, forms a very principal article of food, and the mandioc, or cassava-root, is much cultivated. We have seen that the central situation of Mexico, and the configuration of its surface, causes its fauna to display some unusual features; it is not, however, exempt from the universal laws regulating the distribution of animals, and is capable of division into three zones, or regions-the cold, the temperate, and the hot. In the elevated cold region, the fauna assumes a northern character. The fields abound with hares, the woods with squirrels; there also we find some of the weasel tribe, and a wolf resembling the Canadian species. The Virginian horned owl, the common barn owl, and other rapacious birds occur; whilst snow-buntings, finches, &c., occupy the woods, and several of the northern ducks cover the extensive alpine lakes. In the temperate region, deer, opossums, and some species of squirrels, abound; and among the birds, are thrushes, hedge-creepers, and warblers. The hot and low maritime tract, and the interior valleys, nourish numerous South American species, such as howling monkeys, armadillos, ant-eaters, coatis (fig. 33), peccaris (fig. 73), jaguars, and ocelots (fig. 15), besides mackaws, parrots, tanagers, and various other birds common in the Brazilian region. Sixty-eight species of land birds have, however, been described as peculiar to Mexico. The insects are little known; though one species, the cochineal, must not pass unnoticed. This insect is met with, or has been introduced into other parts of the world; but it is only in Mexico, that it has been cultivated with complete success for the beautiful dye it affords. It is not improbable, that the difference may be owing to the food of the insect, which, in Mexico, consists of a species of cactus (fig. 23), called the nopal tree. At one period above 2,000,000 lbs. of these little insects were annually exported from Mexico. Central America Proper comprises the territory of Guatemala. The grand range of mountains, which we have observed forming the high table-land of Mexico, extends into this country, in which, however, it becomes twice depressed. It retains its elevation in the north-western part of Central America, and first loses its great altitude near Nicaragua, though it again rears itself in the province of Veragua, where it is crowned by a very fine plain, or tableland. In the eastern part of this province, however, the range becomes broken into detached mountains of considerable height, and of the most abrupt and rugged form. Beyond these, appear innumerable conical hills, not exceeding three hundred or four hundred feet in height, surrounded by plains and savannahs; at length these hills disappear, and for a few miles the country becomes uninterruptedly low and flat. Ere long, however, the conical hills reappear, and gradually thickening, at length unite, and form a small mountain range of some elevation, which extends from Porto Bello, (or Puerto Belo,) to the Bay of Mandingo, where a second depression occurs. The land from this point continues comparatively flat, through the provinces of Darien and Choco, in which part the only indication of the ridge, consists in the water shed; the rivers on one side flowing into the Atlantic, and, on the other, into the Pacific. The narrowest portion of the isthmus is near the city of Panama, where it does not exceed thirty miles |