Travels in the United States, etc.,: during 1849 and 1850./ By the Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley.

TRAVELS IN AMERICA.
feet in circumference, though by all accounts it would appear to be
three stems, closely, almost imperceptibly, joined together. It
must be like the great "Boabab" of Asia; but the suspicion of
this latter one being a treble tree, renders it less interesting. I
confess, in one of the mighty Ahuahuetes that I saw, I detected
something that looked as if a similar process had taken place.
There is certainly a suspicious line along the trunk; but I am
assured I' am wrong, and by those likely to know better than I do. L
After admiring this giant grove for some time, we crept, feeling
very microscopical and mite-like, back to the carriage, which had
assumed considerably the appearance of a nut-shell drawn by the
"industrious fleas," formerly in vogue in London, by comparison
with these colossal suzerainrs of the- vegetableworld. We intended to drive up the precipitously steep (but zig-zagged) ascent
on which stands embattled the castle, but the fates willed it otherwise, and we had not gone many yards before the harness broke,
and our gallant grays (fine-looking American horses) were relieved
from the trouble of dragging us up. The Mexican cochero indulged in some vituperations against the American harness; the
horses took the whole affair very philosophically; and we, anxious
to see the beauteous view which we knew the elevated summit
of Chapultepec must present, left Mr. to superintend the
criados, and the reparation of the damage, and climbed up the hill.
It was rather toilsome work, but we felt a great reward was
awaiting us; we pushed on vigorously, and, at length, found ourselves on the height, and on a broad graveled terrace fronting the
entrance. Trumpets were sounding cheerily, but we staid not
to ascertain why or where, intent upon taking, not the castle, but
the best possible position for seeing the hermosa vista. The
commandant-as we afterward ascertained he was-came forward, and very courteously asked if we would like to see the view
from the azotea of the castle, and observed we must be much
fatigued by climbing the precipitous ascent. I informed him of
the accident that had occurred, and that we had come with the
h2inistro Ingles, who was detained at the bottom of the hill by
the misfortune aforesaid. He immediately said he knew the
ministro, and scarcely had he pronounced the words, before Mr.
D - appeared on the esplanade, having scrambled up by a
short cut, I believe, and a still more steep and far more rugged
path than the one we followed. Indeed, it looked pretty nearly
perpendicular. Mutual civilities were exchanged, and we forthwith hurried to the flat roof of the castle.
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