ENGINEERING REPORTS. 19 
Of the streams watering the northern slope of the Isthmus, 
the most important by far is the Coatzacoalcos,* by reason both 
of the comparatively large extent of country, for the drainage 
of which it is the outlet, and also as furnishing the natural chan- 
nel through which the projected communication between the 
two oceans may, in part, be effected. This river takes its rise in 
the unexplored part of the Sierra to the east of Santa Maria 
Chimalapa. About thirteen miles above this village, the Chi- 
malapilla falls into the Coatzacoalcos on its right bank. This 
was the highest point explored by the commission ; but the In- 
dians ascend it on rafts thirty or forty miles further beyond. 
On the same side, and one mile below the Chimalapilla, is the 
confluence of the Bio del Pinal ; thence to a point nine miles 
below Santa Maria the course of the river is southwest, and 
thence to the confluence of the Malatengo, a distance of thirty- 
six miles, it runs in a northwesterly direction. Between the 
Pinal and Malatengo, it receives the waters of the Milagro, Is- 
cuilapa, and Coyoltepec rivers on its left bank. The Malatengo, 
which also enters the Coatzacoalcos on the left, drains the ele- 
vated table-lands of Xochiapa, Chivela, and Tarifa, as well as a 
portion of the mountain districts to the east and west of them. 
Its principal tributaries are the Chichihua and Almoloya ; the 
latter takes its course through the plains of Chivela, and derives 
its chief importance as probably furnishing the most feasible 
route by which the railroad may be carried to these plains from 
the north. 
The rivers Sarabia, Jumuapa, and Jal tepee (or de los Mijes) 
enter the Coatzacoalcos on the left bank, and next to them the 
Chalchijapa on the right. The first two descend from the Sierra 
of Santa Maria Guinenagate ; and although the Sarabia carries 
a considerable volume of water, it is not navigable on account 
* Many disputes have arisen with regard to the orthography of this name. In 
the official dispatches of Hernan Cortes to the Emperor Charles V. he writes it in 
no less than six different ways, viz., " Mazamalco," " Quacalco" " Cuacuacalco" 
6 Cuicicacalco," " Guazacualco" and " Guazaqualco." The veteran soldier Bernal 
Diaz del Castillo, who resided more than thirty years in the province, calls it 
" Cuacasualco." De Solis, on the other hand, writes it " Guazacoalco," and the 
Abbe" Clavigero, who, from his extensive knowledge of the languages of Mexico, is 
perhaps the best authority, writes it after this manner, viz., u Coatzacualco" 
2 
