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Updated: June 3, 2025
The soil is bare because the trees are so bushy that no rays of the sun can penetrate, and many plants wither and die in the shade; but whenever we come upon a glade, you will find the earth covered with grass and shrubs." "Then the forests of the Terre-Tempérée are more beautiful than those of the Terre-Chaude?"
This cascade recalled to my memory one I had seen about a year before, when exploring the environs of Tuxtla, in the Terre-Chaude viz., the Fall of Ingénio one which would be reckoned among the most celebrated in the world, if access to it was not rendered almost impossible by the wilderness.
"Yes; particularly in Mexico, where these subterranean passages are numerous. Near Chiquihuita, about five leagues from the road which leads to Vera Cruz and Cordova, a large river vanishes into a cave, which is more than three miles in length." "Oh, how I should like to see such a large grotto!" "Your wish shall be gratified, provided we do not lose our way in the Terre-Chaude."
You seem to forget that the roughest part of our work is yet before us." "Do you mean crossing the Terre-Froide?" "No; we shall only take a glimpse at that; but in the Terre-Chaude, we may meet with many trials." "Bah!" said Lucien, kissing me; "the Terre-Chaude is almost like home; I shall behave so well, that you will be able to tell mamma that I am quite a man."
In the interval that had elapsed since I first met him, twelve years before, in the Terre-Chaude, he had become my friend as much as my servant. But he was never happy in a town, and was always praising wild life, even the inconveniences of the solitudes in which he had been born. "What a pity that it is so dark," said Lucien, whom Sumichrast was leading by the hand.
Sumichrast guided us through the thicket, where the frangipanni-plants, covered with their sweet-scented flowers, predominated, announcing our approach into the Terre-Chaude, and of a completely altered nature of vegetation.
We were again about to meet with tropical vegetation, and should ere long reach the plains and forests of the Terre-Chaude. The way seemed direct and easy; but how many obstacles must be overcome, how many valleys must be crossed, ere we could reach our destination! We descended the slope by a giant staircase, each step of which must have been at least seven or eight feet in height.
Ceibas, elm, cedars, and lignum-vitæ trees only grew here and there; and the mosquitoes, so plentiful in the Terre-Chaude, did not trouble us here. The timber, growing widely apart, allowed us to pass easily; we were in a virgin-forest, but were still too high up above the plains to have to struggle against the inextricable net-work of tropical creepers.
While my companions were engaged in the cooking, I walked a little way on the plateau. I had not gone above two or three hundred yards before I called to the others to join me; for the Terre-Chaude was stretched out at my foot. Departing day at last cast its mysterious veil over the tracts we were about to traverse.
At last the ground became more level, and, directing our course to the right, we turned into a plain, surrounded by woods. "Both trees and plants seem larger here than on the mountains," said Lucien. "You are quite right," answered Sumichrast; "the vegetation in the Terre-Chaude is more vigorous than that of the Terre-Tempérée. As you advance farther into it, you will be able to judge."
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