230 MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, WEST INDIES. 



itself. Solola, ancient capital of the Cakchiquels, and still inliabited by the 

 descendants of these proud and industrious Indians, bears also the name of Tecjmii- 

 Atitlan, or " Communal Palace of Atitlau," in contradistinction to the Atitlun of 

 the Ladinos. This place lies on the opposite or south side of thu lake, and was 

 formerly capital of the Tzutujil nation, whose language still survives in the 

 district. 



An easy pass, Iving between the Atitlan and San Pedro volcanoes, leads down 

 to the rich plantations of Costa Grande, which cover the lower slopes of the 

 mountains. But Tccojaté, the nearest seaport, being too dangerous for shipping, 

 the produce is mostly exported through Champerico. A road partly accessible 

 to wheeled traffic runs from the shores of Lake Atitlan through Mdzatcnango to 

 Rctalhuleu. The cofïee grown in the Mazatenango district is one of the most 

 appreciated in the European market. 



On the lofty plate. lux separating the basin of Lake Atitlan from that of the 

 Rio Mota2:iia are se^^n the remains of one oE the numerous cities which bore the 

 name of Qnaahtemalan, or Guatemala, a name afterwards extended to the whole 

 region. The city, which was the capital of the Cakchiquels, and which they 

 called Iximché, has a circumference of " three leagues." It stood on a terrace 

 encircled on all sides by precipices, and accessible only by one approach, whose 

 two gateways were each closed by a single block of obsidian. The Spanish 

 conqueror Alvarado made it his residence in 1524, and gave it the name of 

 Sioitiago. A second Guatemala, standing on a terrace near the Iximché plateau, 

 is distinguished by the epithet of Tecpan- Gnntemala , or " Communal Palace of 

 Guatemala." About eighteen miles farther east, on a terrace overlooking the 

 Motagua valley, are seen the still more famous ruins of Mixco. 



Chimaltenango is at present the capital of the department of like name, a region 

 roughly coinciding with the ancient domain of the Cakchiquels. It stands at a height 

 of about 6,000 feet exactly on the waterparling between the Atlantic and Pacific 

 near the northern extremity of the chain of volcanoes which terminates southwards 

 in the Fuego peak. For trading purposes, it lies in the zone served by the railway 

 which runs from Guatemala to Escuintla and San José. Between Chimaltenango 

 and Guatemala, but nearer to the latter place, is situated the present Indian 

 village of JILcco, to which were removed the captives taken at the surrender of the 

 old city of this name. The first Gaatonala of Spanish foundation, which succeeded 

 the two others of Cakchiquel origin, is the place now known as Ciiidad Vieja, or 

 " Old Town." It was founded in 1527 by Alvarado, in the picturesque Almolonga 

 valley on the banks of the Pio Pensativo, which flows through the Guacalate to 

 the Pacific. It would have been difficult to choose a more delightful situation 

 with a more equable and milder climate, a more fertile and better-watered soil, 

 or more romantic scenery, than this upland valley between the Fuego and Agua 

 volcanoes. Yet the city lasted only seventeen years. In 1541, after long rains, 

 the edge of the flooded crater of Mount Agua, dominating the rising town, suddenly 

 gave way, and nearly all the inhabitants, amongst whom was Alvarado's wife. Dona 

 Beatriz Sin Ventura, the " Hapless," were either drowned or crushed beneath the 



