467 



and extending by Guatimala, as far as the con- 

 fines of Mexico. In this space it remains con- 

 stantly near the coast of the South Sea, where, 

 from the gulph of Nicoya to Soconusco (lat. 

 9i°— 16°), is found a long series of volca- 

 noes most frequently insulated, and some- 

 times linked to counter-forts or lateral branches. 

 Passing the isthmus of Tehuantepec or Huasa- 

 cualco, on the Mexican territory, the Cordillera 

 of central America remains in the intendance of 

 Oaxaca, at an equal distance from the two 

 oceans ; and then in 181° to 21° of latitude, from 

 Misteca to the mines of Zimapan, draws near 

 the eastern coast. It attains nearly in the pa- 



* See the list of twenty-one volcanoes of Guatimala, 

 partly extinguished, and partly still burning, given by Mr. 

 Arago and myself, in the Annuaire du Bureau des longitudes 

 pour 1824, p. 175. No mountain of Guatimala having been 

 hitherto measured, it is so much the more important to fix 

 approximative^ the height of the Volcan de agua placed 

 between the Volcano of Pacaya, and the V olcan de Fuego, 

 called also Volcano of Guatimala. Mr. Juarros expressly 

 says, that this volcano, which destroyed by torrents of water 

 and stones, on the 11th September, 1541, the Ciudad Vieja, 

 or Almolonga, (the ancient capital of the country, which 

 must not be confounded with the Antigua Guatimala), is 

 covered with snow during several months of the year. This 

 phenomenon seems to indicate a height of more than 1750 

 toises. (Compendio de la Hist, de Guatimala, Tom. i, 

 p. 72—85 j Tom. ii> p. 351. Remesal, Hist, de la Province 

 de San Vicente, lib. iv, cap. 5.) 



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