75 
of the Atlantic, it is by no means unhealthy, as its position 
would lead one to suppose. The centigrade thermometer 
does not reach in these regions more than 30 degrees ; the 
most prevalent diseases are intermittent fevers, but no instances 
have thitherto been known of the yellow fever, endemic in 
other countries. 
By means of considerable felling of timber and the cultiva- 
tion of the ground, the climate of this portion of the Isthmus 
will no doubt be considerably improved. 
MINERALS. 
Information purely traditional supposes the existence of rich 
mines of precious metals at the head of the rivers Jaltepec, 
Uspanapan, &c. 
In the statistical account of Don Jose Maria Iglesias mention 
is made of two mineral veins in the neighboiu'hood of the 
village of Joteapa, which were *' denounced "* in 1597 as bemg 
of silver, but the exact nature of which in reality is not yet 
known. It is stated in the same work that the calcareous 
rocks found in several parts of this territory might furnish ex- 
cellent building materials ; that in the settlement of los Que- 
mados there is beautiful alabaster, and near Jaltipan gypsum 
of excellent quality^ Lastly, it is stated in the villages of 
Sayultepec and Moloacan there are fountains of petroleum ; 
in the last mentioned place and Almagres are sulphureous 
springs, and in the village of Chinameca a fountain of mineral 
waters, without mentioning its qualities. 
Sr. Moro has been fortunate enough to be the first to find 
in the Mexican Republic mines of coals of a superior quality, 
which he has already legally " denounced," and the circumstance 
of their being situated in the neighbourhood of a great river 
would render the conveyance of their produce very easy. No 
indication has been seen in the Isthmus of the existence of 
this valuable fossil, but certain analogies of geological forma- 
tion suggest the probability of its being found in a particular 
spot between Tehuantepec and Oajaca. He did not wish to 
* The legal term for demanding the grant of a mine. 
