which the projected communication between the two oceans may in part be effected. This river takes its rise in the unexplored part of the Sierra to the east of Santa Maria Chimalapa. Its principal tributaries are the Chichihua and Almaloya. The latter takes its course through the plains of Chívela, and derives its chief importance as probably furnishing the most feasible route by which the railroad may be carried to these plains from the north.

The rivers Sarabia, Jumuapa, and Jaltepec (or de los Mijes) enter the Goatzacoalcos on the left bank, and next to them the Chalchijapa on the right. The first two descend from the Sierra of Santa Maria Guinenagate; and although the Sarabia carries a considerable volume of water, it is not navigable. The Jaltepec River has its source in the Sierra of the Mijes. This river is nearly as large as the Goatzacoalcos above the confluence of the two streams, and is the most important tributary on the west.

Above the confluence of the Jaltepec, the country on either side of the Goatzacoalcos is more or less. broken and hilly, and the banks of the stream often rocky and precipitous; but below this point the margins are comparatively low, and the surface level for some distance back from the river.

Below the island of Tacamichapa, the Goatzacoalcos receives the waters of the Coachapa River on the east. The source of this stream is unknown, but it has been ascended in canoes for twelve days, the time usually occupied in going from the bar of the Goatzacoalcos to the Pass of Sarabia; schooners have also sailed up it for some distance. The cross-ties used on the railroad at Vera Cruz were manufactured from timber obtained from the banks of this stream.

Four miles below the debouche of the Coachapa, but on the opposite shore, is the village of Minatitlan, and three miles below this the river Uspanapa joins. the Goatzacoalcos by its right bank.

The Uspanapa is the most considerable of all the

numerous tributaries of the Goatzacoalcos, and is in some respects even superior to the latter stream for purposes of navigation, carrying a sufficient depth of water to float large vessels to a greater distance from the Gulf, and being also less tortuous. The Indians assert that it has been ascended in canoes for twentyfive days, but it was probably never explored by them to its source. The mountains near the head waters of this stream have the reputation of being rich in gold and silver mines.

The banks of the river below Minatitlan are very low, and frequently flooded. The mouth of the Goatzacoalcos, the geographical position of which has been given, is one hundred and fifteen miles west from the river Grijalva or Tabasco, and about one hundred and ten miles from Vera Cruz. Its width is about fifteen hundred feet, and its depth varies in different places.

III.

INHABITANTS.

THE Isthmus of Tehuantepec comprises within its limits a mixed and heterogeneous population, consisting of Europeans, Creoles, Mestizos, Indians, Mulattoes, Zambos, and Negroes.

The European portion, numerically considered, is exceedingly insignificant; embracing only a small remnant of French colonists, with a few German adventurers, and some old Spanish settlers, dispersed over various localities. They control almost the entire trade of the Isthmus, and, with few exceptions, are the only mechanics and tradesmen to be found.

The Creoles (the descendants of the Conquistadores and other Europeans) compose the native white population, and are somewhat more numerous. On the southern portion of the Isthmus, where they principally reside, they are found holding all the civil and

military appointments. Although the landed wealth of the country is mostly in their hands, they are far from being individually rich; and there is, perhaps, no social organization in which the extremes of wealth and the extremes of poverty so often meet. The dif ference in color is made the criterion of respectability. With few exceptions, they exclusively possess the little amount of learning which is disseminated over the Isthmus-a circumstance that helps to define, with rigid accuracy, the boundaries of social distinction.

The Mestizos, in point of influence, may be justly considered next; the more especially "where rank depends more on the complexion than on endowments, and where almost every shade has its limits defined by terms which, though apparently only expressing the color, in reality express the rank of the individual." This division of the inhabitants has become an important part of its population, and constitute what may be appropriately denominated the middle class. As such, many of them are prominent men, and enjoy the advantages of comparative wealth and education. The Mestizos are scattered over almost all parts of the Isthmus, and comprise the mayordomos, the mayorales of the haciendas, the arrieros of the mule trains, and the under officials of the custom-house, and of the municipal police. They are characterized by habits. of industry, but not of strict sobriety.

The Indians, who are by far the most numerous portion of the inhabitants, comprehend the remnants of various once powerful tribes, which, notwithstanding the changes and vicissitudes that have marked their condition since the days of the Conquest, still exhibit distinctive characteristics sufficient to identify the sources from which they originally sprung. Among these are the Aztecs, Agualulcos, Mijes, Zoques, Zapotecos, and Huaves. These are distributed over the country in a manner which corresponds somewhat with its peculiar topographical divisions.

On the northern part of the Isthmus, within the intendency of Vera Cruz, and extending as far south as Mt. Encantada (beyond which, to the Rio Sarabia, a broad belt of uninhabited country intervenes), are found the Aztecs and Agualulcos. Whatever peculiarities may have existed in the idiomatic structure of the native languages of the Isthmus, it is certain that they are now little else than mere ill-spoken dialects, replete with corrupt and broken sentences of Spanish.

In their persons the Indians are somewhat below the medium stature, but squarely built, and of great muscular strength, being often able to support a weight of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty pounds on their shoulders for several hours, exposed to the rays of the hottest summer sun. They are copper-colored, with smooth, coarse hair, small beard, diminutive eyes, prominent cheek-bones, low, narrow forehead, aquiline features, white teeth, thick lips, and a gentle expression of mouth, strongly contracted, with a melancholic and severe look. The women, on the other hand, are less strongly built, and in some instances beautiful and well proportioned-a beauty which is enhanced by the natural grace of their carriage. Their movements are quick and mercurial, and their manners are characterized by shyness rather than modesty.

The Abbé Clavigero, in his excellent work on Mexico, says, in reference to the physical character of the Indians, that "there is scarcely a nation perhaps on earth in which there are fewer persons deformed; and it would be more difficult to find a single humpbacked, lame, or squint-eyed man amongst a thousand Mexicans, than among any hundred of any other nation." This assertion is literally true of the natives on the Isthmus. In their habits they are exceedingly simple, and their chief subsistence consists of vegetable food. As a general rule, they are little inclined to

work; but, from the natural docility of their character, it seems only reasonable to infer that under better and brighter circumstances they would become both useful and industrious. Every man and boy wears a machete, and the facility and dexterity of its use is not a little surprising. It serves as a weapon for defence, an instrument for killing beef, an axe for cutting wood, and a knife for eating, &c. As axemen, to perform the grubbing and clearing on the route of the proposed railroad, their services will be found invaluable.

Their amusements are scarcely worthy of note. In fact, an atmosphere of apathy seems to pervade every thing, and even their liveliest songs are sad, and their merriest music melancholy.

In religious matters they are reverential but superstitious; and the ceremonies of the church, with its numerous fiestas and processions, are loved because they are gloomy and peculiar.

As a cultivator, the Indian is poor, but he is free; and he loves the solitude of his wretched ranchito, because it restores him, even as a peon, some of the longlost liberty of his ancient race. This desire for solitude has given rise to that disposition among them to inhabit the elevated sections and summits, and to locate their pueblos on sites less convenient of access, and less advantageous to prosperity.

Everywhere on the Isthmus-even on the loftiest mountains, in the deepest dells, and in the most impenetrable forests-there are silent evidences of the history of a vast and powerful people, of which there scarcely remains now a tenth part, as the miserable consequence of their calamities.

The Indians on the northern part of the Isthmus evince the greatest veneration for the memory of Doña Marina, the beautiful mistress of Cortes. In her native village of Painalla, now called Jaltipan, a large circular mound of earth, known as the "Hill of Malinche," serves to recall the history of her imperisha