( S ) 
as previously mentioned with a downward incline, for 8 k.. In all this 
distance only one ravine has to be crosaed^is there a steep descent 
to the i^eeaxa river, which though considered a saddle trail, is diffictlt 
^^^Next^we cross the Keeaxa river which is the same as we crossed at the 
Totolapa bridge. There is a sort of a bridge over the j.>.ecaxa river, but 
owing to its being constructed of vines, having a high arch, narrow footway, 
and, only used by travelers on foot. Horses and pack animals having to ford 
or swim. The bridge from its fragile construction ossicilates strongly 
when being used. Our artist presents a sketch showing its original constru 
ctlon, P assing the river there is another climb like the descent.! he 
village of Heeaxa is on the margin of the river, about 8 k. from Huauchinan 
go. Heeaxa means "noise in the water". Fasslns the river, and reachir^the 
top you arrive at a small plateau, on which are some fortifications constru- 
cted during the last years of the recent war. The point in our estimation 
was well chosen, there still exist the trenches , covered roads and shelters 
used by the troops. All the eastern and southern parts are protected by 
the Heeaxa river steep precipices s,nd at this point is the famous fall of 
Huauchinango or i^ecaxa as it is also called^which has*f been so well 
described by the pen of the Count of Cortina;! will proceed. 
I will state however that the water falls according to Sr Cabrioto 
134.9 meters. I tried to check this by timing the time it required for 
a part of the ‘stream to make the descent to be about seven seconds , whio/i 
would give a depth of about 239 meters. There is another cascade above this 
but,owi‘ng to the difficult terrain, we could not reach the point. 
It is called the Ventana (window)* The first fall is also called ,Tres 
Chorros, (three streams) from the fact that in flood time thre ai'e three 
divisions in the stream as it goes over the cliff. , ^ .p + 
Tne grades here are so steep as to make it very difficult tor ilnlantry ^ 
Continuing on the road we leave the Hesa on the right , passing through a 
narrow place and proceed on about a level, in a long curve to tne right, 
skirting a high mountaf/i From a point on this road one discovers a beau- 
tiful view of the Falls, of which we also made a sketch. ^ 
A short distance beyond we arrive at a place called Cos Caminos (two 
roads). As the name indicates ,* one passing Xicotepec , the other proceeding 
to Tuxpan, passing the Ranch of San iiLarc os , which is located on the margin 
of the river of the same name,.also as the Jalapl/la, hut in the State of 
Vera Cruz where it enters the Gulf in it known as the Qasones. 
Vve follo-^^eS the road to Jticptepec, which from the junction is almost flat, 
only passing two or three small streams, and to pass them only small de- 
clines and climbs are necessary. ‘ 
Xicotepec they say is derived from a word meaning tired mountain, but 
others say the word is an adulterant and should be I tzintlaltepec , mean- 
ing "at the foot of the mountain, in fact Xico is situated on a small 
plateau , surrounded by mountains. From Xico there are also two roads, the 
first in a X direction called the river road, and the other i-l h and 
called the mountain road. In the dry season the first' is preferred as it 
is more level, but in the wet season it is in, possible for tr 8 .vel,as the 
river has to be crossed 23 times, and is usually flooded, for this reason 
we took the mountain road. 
