The Isthmus of Tehuantepec. 



169 



There are several large towns on the isthmus proper : the 

 most prominent being in the order as follows : 



Tehuantepec, Passo del San Juan, Minatitlan, Chivella, 

 Suchil. 



These last are the most noted, although smallest, being 

 on the line of the proposed road from sea to sea. 



Minatitlan is the port on the Atlantic. Tehuantepec is 

 near the port on the Pacific. This last is one of the oldest 

 towns in Mexico : it was built by the Aztecs with walls of 

 flat bricks, and copper fastenings, which are now standing. 

 All the houses have heavily grated windows, and heavy 

 arched doorways. It was once the largest and most flourish- 

 ing town of southern Mexico, but war, famine, and the 

 thousand troubles and restrictions of a continually revolu- 

 tionized government, combined with the gradual decay of 

 the race, have almost reduced it to a ruin. Many of the 

 houses are uninhabited. "Where once was plenty, the 

 spider now weaves his web." The houses are painted 

 white, as in all Mexican towns, and may be seen at a dis- 

 tance of twenty miles, glistening in the sun. 



The Tehuantepec Rail Road Company of New York has 

 permission to build a road over the line described, and a 

 grant of land along the line of the road with a promise of 

 Mexican bonds to a certain amount for each mile of road 

 actually contracted. In return, this company has agreed to 

 construct forty-five miles of road, annually, to carry govern- 

 ment freight free, and to cede to Mexico, at the expiration 

 of seventy years, the whole road, rolling stock, etc., and 

 for the fulfillment of this agreement has given bonds for 

 one hundred thousand dollars. 



In regard to this compact, it may be said that the only 

 unclaimed lands along the line of the road are on the At- 

 lantic and Pacific Plains, which have no value except for 

 the little mahogany on them. They agreed to commence 



Trans. vii.~\ 22 



