158 The Isthmus of Tehuantepcc. 



m 



The Pacific Plains lie between that ocean on the south, 

 and the Table Lands on the north. They have a gentle 

 inclination toward the sea. The rivers whicb drain them 

 are eight in number, and of small size. Seven of them 

 discharge in two large lakes, or lagoons, and thence, 

 through a narrow channel, called Boca del Barro, to the 

 sea, while the eighth discharges into the gulf of Tehuan- 

 tepec. None of them are larger than the Kondout 

 creek. They are interesting because their sources are 

 higher than the summits of the passes through the moun- 

 tains, and they can be used as feeders for the canal. 



Between the two plains are the Table Lands. They are 

 a part of the Cordillera range, about twenty-five miles in 

 width, and elevated, at the lowest point, seven hundred and 

 thirty-five feet. They are watered by an hundred small 

 rivers, flowing toward either sea. 



The general appearance of these table lands is like the 

 best farming lands of Maryland and Virginia. There is no 

 tropical vegetation, nor tropical animal life. 



There are two passes through these hills, named Tarifa, 

 and Chivella, both of which offer a good location for a road. 



The climate of the isthmus varies as much as its topo- 

 graphy. On the sea, particularly the Atlantic coast, the 

 climate is hot and sultry : rain falls from July until October. 

 The low ground, partially overflowed in the wet season, 

 emits a dangerous miasma, and breeds, in every crevasse, 

 a thousand kinds of insect life: every thing which bites 

 and stings has here its home, and fullest perfection. Mus- 

 ketoes are more abundant and tormenting than in the 

 marshes of New Jersey. Poisonous spiders, bugs, fleas, 

 ants and sandfliers abound. Alligators swarm in the rivers 

 and bask on their slimy banks. Monkeys and parrots in- 

 numerable chatter in the woods. 



Every stick and stone is freighted with animal life. 

 Vines and flowers interlaced render the woods impassable 



