rounding desert. The journey was made by diligence, and the 

 route lay through the village of Tule made famous by the giant 

 ahuehuetl. or cypress ( Taxodium mucronatum), which stands in the 

 church yard. This tree by the claims of local patriotism is the 

 greatest in the world, while fora long time it has been cited as the 

 oldest living. Both these claims are incapable of actual proof, 

 although the tree has much to justify an interest in it. It measures 

 i 54 feet and 2 inches six feet from the ground, but it may be really 

 two or three individuals fused together as it divides into that 



tablet, partly covered by the growth of the outer la 

 trunk, signed by the great naturalist, Baron von Hur 

 probably placed there by his direction a century ago. 

 The road to Mitla runs down the drainage system 

 tary of the Tehuantepec river, among fields of maize ; 



:t of ob- 

 ■s of the 



