GREAT CITIES OF THE PLATEAU. 1 3 



name, — Aguascalientes (hot water or springs). The city contains 35,000 inhabit- 

 ants, and is well supplied with factories, schools, and colleges. A thriving city 

 west of the railroad is San Juan de los Lagos, situated in a deep ravine, little 

 above the surface of the river. It is mainly composed of mud huts ; though its 

 large and beautiful church, dedicated to " Our Lady of the Lake," is famous 

 throughout the country. An annual fair is held here, lasting eight days, to which 

 the people of the entire region resort, in December of each year. 



Jalisco is a large and populous State, lying upon the western slope of the 

 Cordillera; and here the traveller will find the temperature sensibly increased, as 

 contrasted with that of the cities and towns along the line, both north and south of 

 it. It belongs, in fact, to the tierra caliente, — the hot country, — and is capable 

 of producing all tropical productions, which might also be raised in the deep and 

 hot ravines of the narrow section traversed by the railway. The portion of the 

 plateau on the western declivity of the cordillera enjoys a more fertile soil and 

 more temperate climate than that above, as evidenced by the populous tewns 

 of Lagos and Leon, which do not depend upon the mines, but upon the soil. 



About thirty-six miles farther is the city of Lagos, containing 20,000 inhabitants, 

 — a prosperous place. There is a church here, — larger than the one at San Juan, 

 but with less costly decorations, — commenced in 17S4. 



Leon, thirty-six miles farther, lies about ten miles within the border of the .State 

 of Guanajuato, gt an elevation above the sea of 6,000 feet, in a fine, highly 

 cultivated valley dotted with fields of corn and wheat. It is well built, and has 

 several large religious edifices, though with none so noteworthy as in the towns 

 just passed. The plaza is a large and beautiful one, paved with cobble-stones in 

 mosaic, and with an elegant fountain. The city-hall and public buildings are large 

 and handsome. The climate here is temperate, ranging from 60° to 80° the year 

 round. Oranges are cultivated here, though other tropical fruits do not flourish ; 

 and the flower-gardens of Leon are celebrated. Leon is 258 miles from the city 

 of Mexico ; and the event of its being placed in rail connection with the capital 

 was celebrated with great rejoicings. It is celebrated for its factories, and is the 

 market-town for an extensive agricultural district. 



The next large town is Silao, "between which and Leon," says a traveller, 

 before the advent of the railroad, " the eye looks in vain for signs of cultivation." 



A branch line of fourteen miles connects Silao with the famous city of Guana- 

 juato, capital of the State of the same name. This city, containing about 65,000 

 inhabitants, lies at an elevation above the sea of some 800 feet higher than the 

 general altitude of the line of road ; Leon being at 6,000, and Celaya, to the east, 

 6,020. It is built in so rugged a region, and is so securely hedged in by hills and 

 mountains, that it was found impossible to run the main line to the capital city; 

 hence the branch from Silao of twelve miles to the suburban town of Marfil, 

 whence a tramway leads to the outskirts of the city itself. The inauguration 

 of the opening of the Central Railroad to this point was celebrated on the 22d of 

 November, 1S82, with unusual splendor. A special excursion-train was run from 

 Mexico, containing about 150 people, comprising many of the most distinguished 

 men of the Republic. The streets were illuminated, the buildings decorated, and 

 fiestas and fireworks gave expression to the joy of the people in having been 

 at last brought into connection with the capital city. This town, says a well- 

 informed writer, is, perhaps, the most curiously picturesque and remarkable in 



