HYDROGRAPHIC REPORTS. 
Corte, the forests are very similar to those which skirt the mar- 
gins of the Chicapa, and present a reeking mass of vegetation 
in endless variety. 
The chief object of your instructions having reference to an 
exploration of the Rio del Corte, I obtained a balsa, with proper 
guides, and on the morning of £he 15th of April reached a point 
a short distance below the Chimalapilla, beyond which I did 
not deem it necessary to explore. Between this point and the 
place of setting out, called the Paraca Nicolas, one and a half 
leagues N. 33° W. from the puebla, the river is exceedingly tor- 
tuous and narrow, with frequent strong rapids, and a depth va- 
rying from two to twenty-seven feet — the bottom alternating 
between granite, slate, and limestone, with pebbles of quartz 
and jasper, and large boulders of conglomerate rock. The Rio 
del Pinal, at its junction with the main stream, forms an angle 
of 22°, and has a general direction of M. E. by j$V Its entrance, 
however, is blocked by sharp, jagged rocks, which extend for 
some distance up, and its banks are formed by sharp, conical 
cerros, covered with a rich growth of trees, indicating, from the 
water-marks upon them, a rise of twenty-nine feet. At the 
mouth of the Pinal is a road leading to the head-waters of the 
Ohalchijapa, by which the Indians often pass to the Coatzacoal- 
cos. On the opposite shore is another leading to the village of 
Santa Maria Chimalapa, and known as the " Picadura de con- 
trabandistasP Below this are several large milpas, located 
on points doubtlessly cleared by the Spaniards in obtaining 
timber for the Naval Arsenal at Havana. Nearer the Paraca 
Nicolas is a succession of high cliffs of limestone rock, over- 
hanging the river, and making its shores bold and deep. Prom- 
inent among these is the Piedra Lagarta, which, from the close 
similitude of one of its projecting points to a huge alligator, pre- 
sents a singular feature in the natural scenery of this wild and 
romantic region. On the opposite shore the cliffs rise perpen- 
dicularly to a height of more than four hundred feet, and are 
studded with lofty pines, which, when cut, are precipitated from 
the summit into the river. 
After much difficulty I succeeded in obtaining another balsa 
(with the guide who had accompanied Col. Robles, during his 
