244 
TOWNS, PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY, ETC. 
Beyond this antechamber, the cave extends intd the mountain 
for a distance of more than 2000 feet, sometimes expanding into 
large halls, or forming regular arched passage-ways several hun- 
dred feet in length, alternately ascendmg and descending into 
ridges and valleys. On the walls, at the extreme end of the 
cave, are several circular paintings, rudely executed with red 
ochre, and probably intended to represent the sun and moon. 
There are also several representations of the human hand, done 
in black. Immediately fronting these drawings, in the floor of 
the cave, is a small aperture through which, by means of ropes, 
access is obtained to an apartment beneath. In this are frag- 
ments of arrow-heads, human bones, and antique pottery. 
El Barkio de la Soledad, on the road to Tehuantepec, nine 
leagues from Boca del Monte, and within two miles of Petapa, by 
which it is separated by a small arroyo, contains a mixed popu- 
lation of 1200, consisting of Indians and Zambos, who are chiefly 
agriculturists. The production of sugar, fruits, vanilla, and 
common lime constitute their principal occupation. The town 
has one or two small stores, aposada, and a well-built church, 
erected in 1834. During the last year, El Barrio lost thirty in- 
habitants by cholera. In the neighborhood there are one or two 
tine estates, especially the Raneho de Colder on, upon which a 
considerable quantity of sugar-cane is annually grown. The 
proprietors of this hacienda are the principal business men of 
El Barrio. 
Immediately east and south of El Barrio are a number of 
small settlements embraced within the limits of the estates of 
Marquesanas : these include La Ghivela, Tarifa, Santiago, and 
Agua Escondida. The hacienda of La Chivela, situated on the 
plains, at the entrance of the pass of the same name, 780 feet 
above the Pacific Ocean, and twelve miles southeasterly from 
El Barrio, has a population of about seventy-five persons, and 
some fifteen or twenty ranchos. As a settlement, it is only im- 
portant as being the residence of the chief guarda de ganado of 
the " Marquesanas," the property of Don Estavan Maqueo, and 
the principal place for the sale of cattle belonging to the estate. 
Santiago, beautifully located on a level plain, seven miles 
fro:;: Ta Chivela, ai.d three miles from the Pass of West 
