![The Land of the Sun; Vistas Mexicanas [A Novel]](/jacket/500x500/9781230278544.jpg)
Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XI. THE BARRANCA DE PORT1LLO. "Leave Guadalajara without seeing the Barranca de Portillo!" exclaimed Philip. "Nonsense!--it's not to be thought of!" "But what is the Barranca de Portillo?" asked Miss Graham with an air of apprehension. "If it is a deserted monastery, or an institution of charity, or--anything of that kind--I must beg to be excused." "A barranca," said Philip with praiseworthy gravity, "is altogether an institution of Nature. Man has no part in it, except that in the present instance he has constructed a road by means of which one descends into it." "Descends?" "Yes. It is two thousand feet deep--a great rift in the earth's surface. By Jove!" added the speaker with sudden energy, " you would know something about barrancas if you were a civil engineer in Mexico, especially on the line of road which we have been endeavouring to survey between here and the coast. The route to San Bias has proved impracticable solely on account of barrancas." "A barranca," said the general, " is simply, I believe, a canon." "About the same thing," replied his son. "Connoisseurs in canons and barrancas may be able to point out some minor differences, but they are imperceptible to the ordinary observer. Called by whatever name you please, they are amazingly picturesque, when regarded from the point of view of the artist rather than the railroad man. And there is none more picturesque or better worth seeing than the Barranca de Portillo, near this place." "Of course, then, we must see it," said Dorothea with her accustomed decision. "What do you mean exactly by 'near'?" "I mean that it is a day's excursion," replied Philip. "And we must start early in order to manage it. Leave all details to me--only prepare yourselves for some of the...
