IXTACCIHUATL. 

Ixtaccihuatl (pronounced Is-tak-see-watl) lies almost due north from 
Popocatepetl, its distance from the principal peak of the former 
mountain being about ten miles. In shape and outline it differs 
strikingly from Popocatepetl, since instead of having the rounded, 
‘conical form of the latter, it consists of a long, narrow ridge cut into 
three well-defined peaks. These peaks are about equidistant from 
one another, and the central is the highest. The length of the ridge 
from the northern to the southern peak is little less than two miles. 
The snow-covered portion of the mountain has quite a striking 
tesemblance to the figure of a woman lying on her back. Hence the 
name Ixtaccihuatl, meaning the White Woman (zx/ac, white, and 
cthuatl, woman), given to it by the Aztecs. Of this figure the north- 
ern, central and southern peaks represent the head, breast and 
feet respectively. According to the tradition of the Aztecs* the 
woman was a goddess, who for some crime had been struck dead, and 
forever after was doomed to lie rooted to the spot. Popocatepetl 
was her lover, who, being unwilling to desert his spouse, remained by 
her side, and gave vent to his sorrow by great heavings and groanings 
of his breast, and floods of lava tears. 
Whatever may have been their views regarding the origin of 
Ixtaccihuatl, neither the Aztecs nor their successors seem to have 
made any extensive exploration of it. Both popular and scientific 
attention has been so largely turned to its higher neighbor, that Ixtac- 
cihuatl has received comparatively little notice. 
From a scenic point of view, however, Ixtaccihuatl far surpasses 
its better known companion. Its sharp, rugged outlines, aiguille-like 
summits and comb-like ridges, its precipitous escarpments, and deep, 
narrow valleys, give it a wild and imposing aspect, which is every- 
where softened to the pleasing and picturesque by dashing mountain 
streams, charming glens, and arich and varied flora. The scenery, 
indeed, is said strikingly to resemble that of the Alps both in grandeur 
and variety. _ } : . | 
I am aware that I do not express the opinion of all writers in 
thus giving the palm of beauty to Ixtaccihuatl, for Packard} at least, 
. *Ober, of. cit. p. 374. 
TOP. cit. p. 109. 
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