tree in the valleys beneath, surpass in richness the most brilliant tints of our northern Indian summer.

The town of SANTA MARIA CHIMALAPA is built with some regularity on an elevated ridge, within a mile of the Rio del Corte, and contains 2 churches, 104 houses, and a population of 680, of whom no more than threefourths speak Spanish. Distant from the shores of the Pacific, and approachable only by a wretched road, the inhabitants have comparatively little social intercourse with other settlements. Their products are

nevertheless much more numerous than those of more favored places, and considerable quantities of oranges, maize, tobacco and ixtle are annually transported by means of balsas down the Rio del Corte, for the supply of El Barrio, Petapa, &c. The river abounds in excellent fish, and the inhabitants, whose cattle, from the want of grazing lands, are very limited, eat scarcely any other animal food. The scenery on the Rio del Corte is unequaled in beauty, and the abundance of valuable timber, as the pine, live-oak, and cypress, invest this part with peculiar interest, and cannot fail to attract a share of the future timber trade of the Isthmus.

Returning again to the central division of the Isthmus, the road from Petapa to Tehuantepec takes a direction nearly south, by the way of the Cerro Guiévixia, and through the Pass of Guichilona. Near here is a branch road leading to SAN GERONIMO, a league from the mountain bases, on the margin of the Rio Juchitan. This town, founded by the Spaniards soon after the Conquest, contains a population of 500 Zapotecos, whose chief occupation is the raising of indigo. With the exception of its admirable situation and healthy climate, the only attraction is the church, built by the Dominican friars in the sixteenth century. This is an oblong edifice, in the Moorish style of architecture, and in very good repair, considering the carelessness of the natives and the long period of years that have intervened since its erection. Above the

altar there are some tolerable basso relievo carvings of the patron saints of the pueblo-of San Miguel, San Pablo, and San Elias. Altogether, the village is neat and picturesque. The railroad will probably pass through it or in its vicinity.

Leading to San Geronimo is a road from Chivela Pass, a portion of which was built by the engineers of Don José de Garay. In some places this is quite steep, and presents many difficulties for wheeled vehicles; but by blasting at one or two points it may be rendered almost immediately serviceable. All along the line through the Pass the scenery is beautifully varied, and within a short distance of the plains are several mineral springs, which with so many attractive features are doubtless destined to become places of frequent resort. Indeed, it is not unlikely that the Springs of Chivela may become, in the course of time, as well known and as fashionably frequented as those of Saratoga and the White Sulphur. After reaching the base of the mountains in the vicinity of the Rio Verde, the road finally comes on to the plains through the Portillo de la Martar.

Two miles northwest from San Geronimo is the neat settlement of SANTO DOMINGO CHIHUITAN, through the centre of which courses the clear, silvery stream of Los Perros. Beyond a picturesque location and its beautiful church, Chihuitan is an unimportant place, numbering some 600 inhabitants, who are remarkable for their hospitality; it is, however, the chosen resort of thousands who congregate from all portions of the Isthmus to attend a fair annually held there. This generally lasts for a week, during which time the roads in every direction are thronged by the Indians, who hail the occasion to expose for sale, at so grand a market, the trifling results of their industry.

Almost directly south from San Geronimo, at a distance of five miles, is the town of ITZTALTEPEC, signifying in the Zapoteco language "the Hill of Salt." The town contains an industrious and quiet population