GUADALAXARA ZACATECAS AXACA. 319 



east by that of Mexico ; on the south by the district 

 of Guanaxuato ; and on the west by the province of 

 Guadalaxara. Being situated on the western de- 

 clivity of the cordillera of Anahuac and intersected 

 by hills and beautiful valleys, it in general enjoys a 

 mild and temperate climate. The volcano of Jorullo, 

 already described, is situated in this intendancy, which 

 has three cities, three towns, and 263 villages. The 

 southern part is inhabited by Indians. 



5. The province of Guadalaxara is bounded on the 

 north by the governments of Sonora and Durango, 

 on the east by those of Zacatecas and Guanaxuato, 

 on the south by the district of Valladolid, and on 

 the west by the Pacific Ocean. Its greatest breadth 

 is 345 miles, and its greatest length 407. It is 

 crossed from east to west by the Rio de Santiago, 

 which is of considerable size. The eastern portion 

 consists of the elevated platform and western de- 

 clivity of the cordilleras of Anahuac. The maritime 

 parts- are covered with forests, which abound in 

 excellent timber. The volcano of Colima, situated 

 in this district, is the most western of those of New- 

 Spain. It frequently throws up ashes and smoke ; 

 but its height is not so great as to carry its summit 

 into the region of perpetual snow. The most re- 

 markable towns are, Guadalaxara, which has a pop- 

 ulation of 19,500, San Bias, a port at the mouth of 

 the Santiago, and Compostella. 



6. The intendancy of Zacatecas, bounded on the 

 north by Durango, on the east by San Luis Potosi, 

 on the south by Guanaxuato, and on the west by 

 Guadalaxara, is 293 miles in length, and 176 in 

 breadth. The table-land, which forms its central 

 part, is composed of syenite and primitive slate. 

 Near Zacatecas are nine small lakes, abounding in 

 muriate and carbonate of soda. This district is very 

 thinly peopled, although the town has 33,000 inhab- 

 itants. 



7. The intendancy of Oaxaca is one of the most 



