ElVEES OF TABASCO. 



149 



been tlie chief brjncli when these coasts were surveyed by Grijalva. In the inte- 

 rior of Tabasco the Grijalva and Usumucin'a present in their numerous ramifying 

 branches a coUectiv^e navigable water-system several hundred miles long even in 

 the dry season. In 1840, 1843, and 1845, Texan, Yucatan, and American flotillas 

 of war easily penetrated into the Grijalva as far as the landing-stage of San J\ian 

 Bautista, the capital, over 80 miles above the bar. The Usumacinta also is navi- 

 gable during the floods for nearly 200 mile-> from its mouth, while light river- 

 craft ascend still farther above the rapids. 



In a region of loose, soft soil changes are necessarily frequent, every inundation 



Fig. 64. - MotTTHS OF THE G-EIJALVA AND UsUitACINTA. 



^cnie 1 : 2.000 000. 



95"40 



92'4a 



West or ureenwicn 



Depths. 



tolO 

 Fathoms. 



10 Fathoms 

 and upwards. 



30 Miles. 



modifying the aspect of the land. "When the streams rise and overflow their banks 

 a great part of the State of Tabasco is laid under water. A space of about 2,000 

 square miles within the fixed coastline disappears regularly during the winter 

 floods. A first rise caused by the summer rains takes place towards the end of 

 June, but it is usually of short duration, and is followed after an interval of three 

 months by the second rise, which usually begins in October and lasts till March, 

 or for about half the year. During this period all land travelling becomes impos- 

 sible, and the inhabitants move about by water. But almost ever^^ channel and 



