TRANSACTIO>'S OF SECTION E, OU 



5. Across the Sierra Madre front Mazatlmi, to Durango. 

 By O. H. HowARTH. 



The journey now to be described was undertaken in April of the present year, 

 over a trail wbicli, so far as the author is aware, has not previously been described 

 by any European. It crosses tlie main range of Western Mexico on a line about 

 120 miles south of that followed by him in 1892, and referred to in a paper com- 

 municated to the Geographical Society in 1893. The recent erection of a direct 

 telegraph line connecting the port of Mazatlan with tbe city of Durango led to the 

 exploration of this new trail, it having been otherwise impracticable for any pur- 

 pose except the casual mule traffic of the natives. The line runs in a north- 

 easterly direction from the Pacific coast between the 23rd and 24th parallels 

 N. lat., traversing an exceedingly wild and rugged district of the main range for a 

 distance of 130 miles in a direct line, but nearer 200 miles following the precipitous 

 contour of the mountains. There is probably no route through the great western 

 range of North America exhibiting such vast alternations of elevation and depres- 

 sion within so comparatively limited an area. From Mazatlan the route followed 

 was by a waggon road to the village of Presidio or Villa Union (alt. 120feet), 

 and thence to Concordia (alt. 380 leet), Piedra Blanca (610 feet), and the little 

 mining town of Copala (1,750 feet), which was reached on the evening of Easter 

 Sunday. Up to this point the ascent is generally an even gradient amongst tbe 

 foothills for the first 30 miles or thereabouts ; but for some 70 to 80 miles further 

 the range is constantly broken by enormous chasms which the trail traverses bv 

 repeated zigzag ascents and descents, frequently of 1,500 to 2,000 feet within a 

 liorizontal distance of 2 or 3 miles. Between the ranche of Ocotes and the canon 

 of the Eio Valuarte a descent of 1,750 feet was made in a couple of hours ; and on 

 the afternoon of the same day the party camped at a point 4,600 feet above this, 

 on the first ' Cumbre ' or dividing ridge. Early the next morning the pass of Los 

 Monos was entered at an elevation of 6,850 feet ; and after descending again 

 2,000 feet to the Llanito (little plain) of Chavarria, another ridge of the Cumbre 

 wa.i crossed the same day at 9,600 feet altitude. Throughout this region, remark- 

 able for the grandeur of its scenery, the main ridge of the western anticline, 

 averaging 10,000 to 11,000 feet, seems to be split up into three or four parallel 

 ranges with the above-mentioned deep gorges separating them. Beyond these 

 commences a gradual descent from one to another of the curious mountain plateaus 

 or ' Llanos,' including those of Las Juntas, Florida, Rusia, Mesa de Madrono, 

 Coyotes, and Llano Grande, at altitudes from 9,100 down to 8,400 feet. These 

 are usually open levels free from forest growth, and are utilised as grazing ground 

 for cattle. Occasionally, on the higher of them, where a water parting occurs, 

 may be seen a continuous stream course intersecting a plain not over a mile or so 

 in length, at the ends of which the water is flowing in opposite directions. Beyond 

 the Llano Grande extends a vast ' mesa ' or tableland covered with scattered pine 

 and other trees for a distance of some 30 to 40 miles at an altitude of 8,000 feet. 

 As this approaches the last hill range overlooking the great plain of Durango the 

 ground becomes open and clear of timber, forming to all appearance an uninter- 

 rupted sweep towards the brow of the range. Yet within a mile of this last 

 descent the traveller finds himself suddenly on the brink of the tremendous gorge 

 of the Rio Chico— a winding rift across the level which has to be descended to a 

 depth of nearly 2,000 feet. Its geological structure is of great interest, exposing 

 about half-way down a massive stream of pale grey vitreous lava, which has been 

 covered to a depth of several hundred feet by other formations and sedimentary 

 detritus. On reascending the opposite face and proceeding to the edge of the 

 range the plain of Durango comes in view, with the city a few miles from the foot 

 of the last descent. This was reached on the evening of the seventh day from 

 Mazatlan. The observations as to physical structure, temperatures, vegetation, and 

 fspeclally the human and animal occupants of these remote mountain fastnesses 

 were of more than ordinary interest, presenting several features distinct from 

 those noticed in other parts of the "Western Sierras. 



