The wind beginning to blow, the gray mass soon was whirled and spread down like a great veil around us.
We were indeed glad when we began to descend and have a little shelter behind us, against the wind, and dry skies instead of damp clouds above us.

Making a sudden descent, we found ourselves in a cleared district, where the only trees left on the high summits were palms, which bore little round dates with round seeds; these were quite sweet and good.
Small ranches were scattered, here and there, along the road.

After another descent and ascent, we found ourselves in an extensive forest of great gnarled oaks, thickly covered with tufts of air-plants and with orchids.

Many of the latter were in full bloom, forming masses of brilliant color.

In making the descent from here, we found the slope composed of slippery limestone, with sharp, rain-channeled surfaces, where our horses with great difficulty kept their footing.