47 
Sr. Moro’s principal object bad been to find out the best line 
through which a canal might be opened from Tarifa to the 
river del Corte. From Tarifa the waters descend naturally to 
the Coatzacoalcos through grounds by no means too rugged, 
whilst the very existence of a labyrinth of hillocks, almost all 
individually isolated, or else joined together by ridges of an 
insignificant thickness, are sufficient to prove the practicability 
of the work, but most probably presenting numerous solutions 
of the problem. 
Sr. Moro ascertained the situation of various points, rectified 
some erroneous notions previously admitted, respecting the 
course of the principal rivers which flow into the Malatengo, 
and followed the course of this river from its junction with the 
Chichihua for about two-thirds of the distance which separates 
it from the river del Corte. Throughout the whole of this 
space its course is neither rapid nor tortuous ; and although it 
was the season when its waters are lowest, it carried a volume 
of more than fifteen cubic metres per second. 
Captain Robles accomplished also satisfactorily the explora¬ 
tion of the river del Corte, although the bad weather and other 
unfavourable accidents had molested them both considerably. 
His reports form the subject of the next chapter. 
Sr. Moro immediately set out again and reached the river 
del Corte, passing through San Miguel and Santa Maria 
Chimalapa with the view of inspecting that part of the country 
which he had not yet visited. 
He next went in company with Captain Robles to San 
Miguel, and again examined the brow of the Sierra, which 
limits towards the north, the course of the Chicapa and that of 
the Monetza, in order to become positively assured that they 
had not left unobserved any part which might offer an obstacle 
to the execution of the work. After this last inspection its 
accomplishment appeared to them even more easy than they 
had hitherto considered it. 
The Commission definitively left the Venta de Chicapa 
where they had fixed their residence, and afterwards visited 
the Hacienda de Santa Cruz, the village of Chihuitan, and the 
Rancheria de Comitancillo, the situations of which they fixed on 
