72 ACAPULCO. 



oranges, and cocoanuts are abundant, and can be had at a 

 nominal price. The Indians who sell these commodities are 

 very interesting to look at. 



The aspect of the country is pleasant, and in the dry 

 season many pleasant excursions can be made in the suburbs. 



That part of the town inhabited by the Indians is 

 spangled with rocks and stones, as if it had been destroyed 

 one time or other by earthquakes. Besides the steamers 

 plying between Nicaragua. Panama, and San Francisco, there 

 was a line of small steamers plying between Acapulco, San 

 Bias and Mazatlan. This gave a certain animation to the place. 



From Acapulco to Mexico there is 340 miles. It can be 

 done in eight days on horseback, but the road is rather bad 

 in the rainy season, although safe enough, excepting near 

 Mexico. They are actually building a railway between the two 

 cities. The principal towns between Acapulco and Mexico are 

 Chilpancingo, Iguala and Cuernavaca. Several villages and 

 haciendas are also met with ; the principal are : Hacienda de 

 Buena Vista, Mescala, Tepecoalcuilco, Hacienda del Plata- 

 nillo, Puente de Ixtla, Alpuyeca, Huitzilac, Cruz del Marques, 

 Topilejo and Tepepa. 



Acapulco belongs now to the State of Guerrero. 

 Formerly it formed part of that of Mexico. As I shall not 

 have to speak again of that country, I shall give a history of 

 it now. 



The State or Department of Guerrero occupies in latitude 

 from 16 36 S.E., to 17 6 N.O. ; in longitude, 98 37 to 

 1 00 22 ! of the meridian of Greenwich, forming a direct line 

 of 400 coast miles. 



Its limits are, on the north, the Departments of 

 Michoacan, Mexico and Puebla ; on the east, the Department 

 of Oaxaca. Its coasts, which comprise about 400 miles in a 

 north-western to a south-eastern direction, are washed by the 

 Pacific Ocean. Its superficial area is about 17,724 square 

 miles, attaining the length of 330 miles and a width of 159 

 miles in its wider parts. Its actual population is about 

 350,000 and Chilpancingo is the capital of the Department. 



Its principal rivers are Sabana, Papagayo, San Marcos, 

 and Coyuca. The first has its source in the mountain of 

 Brea, and empties itself into the lake of Naguala. The 

 Papagayo springs from the mountain of Jaliaca, in the district 

 of Acapulco, and falls into the Pacific. It is the most 

 important, and in the rainy season it can only be crossed in 

 boats. During the domination of Spain a bridge was begun 



