236 
TOWNS, PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY, ETC. 
been brought from the head-waters of the Uspanapa. China- 
meca contains about 1400 inhabitants, who are characterized bv 
industrious habits and hospitality. The houses, which are 
chiefly adobie, are ranged to face the sides of a long winding 
street, form quite a contrast with the mud ranchos of neighbor- 
ing villages. To the south is an extensive strata of calcareous 
earth, through which runs a small river of cool refreshing water. 
In the vicinity are several fine estates, containing in the aggre- 
gate some #000 head of horned cattle, and upwards of 1200 
horses and mules. At a distance of two leagues from China- 
meca is a cofiee plantation, growing 7000 trees, and within six 
miles of the village, in the direction of San Martin, is a spring of 
thermal water. 
Jaltipan, reached by an excellent mule-road five miles south- 
westerly from the last mentioned village, is somewhat celebrated 
as being the birth-place of the romantic and seductive Malinche, 
or Dona Marina, the favored mistress of Hernan Cortes. The 
town, which has a population of 2300, and some 400 houses 
huddled together without reference to order or regularity, with 
the exception of one or two principal streets, is laid on a slightly 
elevated plain, which overlooks the contiguous country. At the 
southern end of the town is an extensive artificial mound, about 
40 feet in height by 100 in diameter at the base, known as the 
" Hill of Malinche," from the summit of which the view is mag- 
nificent, embracing San Martin, Cerro Tecuanapa, Mt. Encanta- 
cla, and the sharp peaks which jut up from the range of the Cor- 
dillera on the south. The soil about Jaltipan is sandy, and /in- 
tersected by strata of calcareous earth. Within a league of the 
place is an old salt mine, which, according to the statements of 
Padre Mota, formerly yielded upwards of 1000 mule-loads per 
year. The inhabitants raise considerable indian-corn, sugar- 
cane, tobacco, and ixtle. The island of Tacamichapa is reputed 
to belong to the town, and is claimed on the ground that it was 
conceded to Malinche by the crown of Spain, in consideration 
of the invaluable services rendered by her to the great conqueror. 
The women of this place are not undeservedly famed as the 
fairest and most beautiful throughout the district ; and in times 
