TOPOGEAPHY OF GUATEMALA. 



237 



neighbouring Lake Peten is occupied by the ancient city of Tayasal, now re-named 

 Flores in honour of a victim of the civil war of 1826. A steep road leads from 

 the place to the crest of a hill, whence a fine prospect is commanded of the 

 islands, headlands, wooded heights, and blue waters of the lake. On the opposite 

 shore ai'e seen the two large Indian settlements of San Andres and San José dis- 

 posed along the slopes of the encircling hills. The whole territory of Peten is 



Fig. 100. — Density of the Population in Guatemala. 

 Scale 1 : 4,500,000. 



0to2. 



Inhibitin-s to the Square Mile 



2 to 20. 20 to 40. 40 to 60. 60 to 100. 

 « Towns of OVG' 25,000 inhibitants. 

 ■ 60 Miles. 



****** ^"^f 



100 and 

 upwards. 



surprisingly fertile, maize yielding two hundredfold without manure, while the 

 cacao, coffee, tobacco, and vanilla of the surrounding plantations are of the best 

 quality. The fishes inhabiting the lake are said to be all of distinct species. 

 According to the legend they were formerly of larger size than at present, being 

 fed in pre-Columbian times on the bodies of the dead. Of the ruined cities that aie 

 scattered over the clearings north of the lake, in the direction of Yucatan, Tikal 

 alone has been explored. It lies 20 miles to the north-east of Peten, and is noted 



