64 A NATURALIST IN MEXICO. 



Just before reaching the d^pot of Atoyac, we crossed 

 the bridge, three hundred and thirty feet long, spanni-ng the 

 river of the same name. Here the steepest portion of the 

 ascent began, a grade of four per cent., and the double- 

 ender Fairlie locomotive was attached to the train. Be- 

 tween Atoyac and Cordoba, we passed through a fertile 

 country which supported a tropical vegetation. Several 

 small tunnels were passed through, and then we reached 

 Cordoba. At this station a number of natives boarded the 

 train, with fruit to sell, for Cordoba is almost in the center 

 of the tropical fruit region. 



From Cordoba the scenery was of surpassing grandeur; 

 the railway slowly w^ound up the sides of the mountains, while 

 beneath were deep caiions, and the scenery was wild in the 

 extreme. We now passed through five tunnels and crossed 

 three bridges. At the Metlac bridge, crossing the ravine 

 of the same name, we encountered the finest scenery. This 

 bridge was three hundred and fifty feet long, and ninety-two 

 feet above the stream below. The grade here was three 

 per cent. It was a grand, and at the same time a wild 

 sight, to look over the side of that bridge, into the rushing 

 waters below. It was said that in the wet season, the water 

 rose within ten feet of the track. What a grand sight it 

 must be then to make the upward journey. On the bank 

 beside the bridges were little houses, in which lived people 

 who watched for accidents to either bridge or track, and 

 who gave warning to trains if anything was wrong. This 

 was certainly a wise precaution. Soon the valley of 

 Orizaba came in view, and the d^pot of that town was soon 

 reached. This is the capital of the State of Veracruz, which 

 state contains over half a million of inhabitants. We were 

 here eighty miles from Veracruz, and one hundred and 

 eighty from the City of Mexico. We were unable to obtain 

 accommodations at the hotel, so were obliged to seek 



