314 



ZACATECAS — OAXACA. 



Suntiago. 



Intendency 

 of Zdcatecas. 



cnAP.xxiv. the east by those of Zacatccas 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 plat- 

 form and western declivity 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 

 IS'ew Spain. It frequently throws up ashes and smoke ; 

 but its heiglit is not so great as to carry its summit into 

 the region of pei-petual snow. The most remarkable 

 towns are, Guadalaxara, which has a population 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 

 Bouth 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 inhabitants. 



7. The intendancy of Oaxaca is one of the most de- 

 lightful countries in the New Continent, possessing great 

 fertility of soil and salubrity of climate. It is bounded 

 on the north by the intendancy of Vera Cruz ; on the 

 east by Guatimala ; on the west by the province of 

 Puebla ; and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. The 

 mountainous parts are composed of granite and gneiss. 

 Tlie vegetation is every where exceedingly beautiful. 

 At the village of Santa Maria del Tule, ten miles east of 

 the capital, tlicre is an enormous trunk of C'upressus 

 disticha, 118 feet in circumference, though it seems 

 rather to be formed of three stems grown into one. 



The most remarkable object in this district is the 

 palace of Mitla, the walls of which are decorated with 



Oasaca. 



Palace of 

 MiUa. 



