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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



MONTE ALBAX AND MITLA AS THE TOURIST SEES THEM 



By Professor CHARLES JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN 



THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO 



IN" April, 1908, while investigating the Mexican cycads in the vicinity 

 of Oaxaca, I took occasion to visit the ancient ruins on Monte 

 Alban and at Mitla. A botanist could hardly be expected to speak 

 with any authority upon archeological matters, but, having taken an 

 excellent camera for photographing the cycads, I could not resist the 

 temptation occasionally to point it at objects of mere human interest. 

 Upon examining the photographs, a friend, who has made some repu- 

 tation as an archeologist, suggested that an illustrated account, written 

 from the standpoint of an ordinary tourist, would be of interest to 

 the public, while the photographs might be useful to those better ac- 

 quainted with the general subject. 



Oaxaca is easily reached. Starting in the morning from Puebla 

 over the Mexican Southern Railway, there is a pleasant ride of 228 

 miles through magnificent mountain scenery and prosperous planta- 

 tions. From Tomellin to Las Sedas, forty miles, there is a grade so 



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Fig. 1. Some bear Pictorial Inscriptions. 



