CHAPTER XII, 



May 9th we again set out, this time to visit Yautepec, 

 where there was said to be good fields for study in Geology. 

 The road, — the Morelos Railroad by the way, — was the 

 same one over which we travelled to Amecameca. At the 

 latter place the road passes along the base of the famous 

 Sacro Monte. This hill rises abruptly from the plain; a 

 shrine is placed here on its summit, around which all 

 manner of legends are entwined. There is an image of the 

 dead Christ preserved, which was placed there by Fray 

 Martin, in 1527. For several centuries, annual pilgrimages 

 have been made to this sacred spot, and there is reason to 

 believe that all these rites and customs antedate Christianity, 

 from the fact that they are participated in almost wholly by 

 natives. 



From Amecameca to Ozumba the road was on a 

 slightly descending grade, through a fertile valley, with the 

 peaks of the snow-capped mountains on the left. In the 

 fields were seen several natives using the ancient plough of 

 wood, drawn by oxen. At Ozumba the steep descent 

 began; in many places the track could be seen three times 

 in the same place, where it doubled and twisted to 

 obtain a foothold on the steep side of the mountain. At 

 Nepantla we passed the up train, and here were seen 

 several cages of beautiful birds in the d(§pot. At Cuautla 

 we encountered, after passing through a most desolate 

 region, a spot which seemed like an oasis in the midst of a 

 desert, it was so green and fertile. At 3:45 we arrived in Yau- 

 tepec and secured accommodations in the Zaragoza hotel. 



Yautepec is a picturesque little town, situated in the 

 midst of a barren volcanic region. The streets are narrow and 



