116 A NATURALIST IN MEXICO, 



a large and impassable fissure, cutting directly across the 

 mountain. The guides assured us that it would be impos- 

 sible to reach the highest point, and we were therefore 

 obliged to be content with our present elevation. 



The aneroid indicated a height of 1G,V00 feet, which, 

 added to the 75 yards (225 feet), made a total height of 

 16,925 feet. The thermometer registered 32°, and the air 

 was exceedingly cold. From the summit we could see 

 Popocatepetl off to the south, rising up like a great, white 

 dome; way down the valley was the town of Amecameca, 

 and over all floated a mass of white, fleec}^ clouds. 



The descent to the cave was undertaken with but one 

 mishap, and this was when one of our number slipped and 

 nearly fell into a deep crevass. The cave was reached, 

 however, without serious accident, and late in the evening 

 we arrived in Amecameca. Ixtaccihuatl is the only one of 

 the three giant volcanoes of Mexico, which partakes of the 

 full dangers of Alpine climbing. In the Alps, travellers are 

 tied to the guides by ropes, which prevents any one from 

 being lost by falling into a crevass. Ladders and additional 

 ropes are also carried. With us, however, nothing of the 

 kind was taken, and so erroneous had been the reports con- 

 cerning this mountain that foot-swaths and other needful 

 articles were not taken, as they were not needed on the 

 other mountains. The mountain bears evidence of having 

 been, at one time, the giant of Mexican volcanoes, and was 

 much higher than at present. The glacier has been named 

 the ''Porfirio Diaz Glacier" in honor of the President of 

 the Mexican Republic. On our return to Mexico, I found 

 that my eyes had been very badly affected by the dazzling 

 sunlight on the ice and by the excessive mental strain, and for 

 several days I was confined to the hotel on account of them. 



The fauna and flora of Ixtaccihuatl was precisely that 

 of Popocateptl. No moUusks were found, however, and 

 but few birds seen. 



