MOUNTAINS POPOCATEPETL ATLIXCO OLIVARES. 223 



cles were not so expensive in Mexico, this alabaster might be pro- 

 fitably exported to Europe, where its extreme purity and clearness 

 would probably ensure its preference to all indigenous qualities. 

 Extensive salt works are carried on at Chila, Xicotlan, Ocotlan and 

 Zapotlan. 



Some of the most remarkable geological characteristics )f the 

 Mexican Republic are found in the three celebrated mountains of 

 Popocatepetl, Iztaccihuatl, and Malinche or Matlacueye, which lie 

 in the- State of Puebla. The latter of these, sometimes called La 

 dona Maria, lies between the volcanoes of Puebla and those of Ori- 

 zaba and Perote, but does not require special mention except as 

 forming a striking and picturesque feature in the landscape. But 

 the other two deserve our special notice. 



ASCENT OF THE VOLCANO OF POPOCATEPETL. 



The mountains of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl border the State 

 of Puebla on the west. The following account of the ascent of the 

 former of these gigantic volcanoes is founded on the journal pub- 

 lished in Spanish in May, 1827, by Messieurs Frederick and Wil- 

 liam Glennie, who were in the service of the British United Mining 

 Company, and Mr. John Taylour, a merchant of the city of Mexico. 



On the 16th of April, 1827, the party left the capital early in 

 the day, accompanied by their sevant Jose Quintana, and, pro- 

 vided with barometer, sextant, chronometer, telescope, and other 

 instruments, reached the village of Ameca, on the western slope 

 of the mountain, where they halted for the night. 



On the 17th they continued their route, following the road to 

 Puebla which leads through the gap of the two mountains, intend- 

 ing to go to Atlixco. In the highest part of the gap they took the 

 road to the right which is called " de los neveros" (those who pro- 

 cure ice for the capital,) and having reached the limit of vegetation, 

 which according to their barometrical measurements is 12,693 

 English feet above the level of the sea, they met with some men 

 who informed them, that in this direction they could not reach the 

 summit, nor prosecute their way to Atlixco on account of the great 

 quantity of sand. With this information they returned to the road 

 they had left, and reached the village of St. Nicolas de los Ranchos. 



On the following day they continued towards Atlixco. The road 

 here edges along the eastern side of the mountain, skirting an ex- 

 tensive district covered with large rocks and loose stones. Having 

 understood that the village of Tochimilco is nearest to the volcano, 

 they determined to go thither to obtain information relative to 

 2c 



