73 
The latter falls into the Atlantic by Alvarado, and the Aca- 
yucans follow its course, when going to Vera Cruz, between 
which port and the Coatzacoalcos it is asserted that a water 
communication might be very easily established. 
In the district of Acayucam there are sixteen municipali- 
ties. 
The town of Acayucam, situated at about 17" 50' 30" north 
latitude, and 0° 5' 45' east of the meridian of Juchitan, is the 
head of the district of the same name, and the residence of a 
Prefect, a Judge of first instance, a military Commander, and 
a parish Clergyman. 
Acayucam, before the conquest, was the court of one of the 
most powerful caziques among the tributaries of the empire 
of Mexico. Cortes, however, diminished its importance by 
founding the town of Espiritu Santo, which during one hun- 
dred and thirty-six years was the capital of the pro\ance ; but 
the latter having subsequently been abandoned by its inhabi- 
tants in consequence of the frequent pillages to which it was 
subjected about the middle of the seventeenth century, Aca- 
yucam, recovered a small portion of its former importance. 
The district of Acayucam, as regards the ecclesiastical divi- 
sion, belongs to the diocese of Oajaca, like the rest of the Isth- 
mus. 
INHABITANTS. 
The tables formed upon the data afforded by the statistics 
of Senor Iglesias show that the population of this district, even 
if we suppose it not to exceed that of 1831, amounts to 21 
thousands inhabitants, divided into Europeans, Indians, and 
Mestizos, or mongrels. 
The Europeans are a limited number, and chiefly occupy 
themselves in commerce and the public administration of af- 
fairs. 
The Indians constitute more than three-fourths of the 
whole population, and apply themselves to agriculture. These 
Indians are almost all Mexicans, and although very ignorant 
and superstitious, do not evince any perverse inclinations. 
Their manners and customs are somewhat loose; they are 
