POPOCATEPETL AND IXTACCIHUATL—-FARRINGTON. 105 
expedition to the mountain, till Dr. Hugo Topf, of Puebla, improved 
an opportunity gained on his return from an ascent of Popocatepetl 
to reconnoiter the other mountain. On its south side, in so doing, 
he reached a height of about 4,000m.”’ The result of this reconnoiter 
was an attempted ascent which Lenk made in April, 1888, in com- 
pany with Topf, the survey by the latter having shown that the best 
route was that from the southwest. The gentlemen reached the 
glacier on the morning of April 12, and with two guides gained about 
I P. M. a point which was estimated to be about 150m. below the 
highest peak. The height of this point they determined to be 4,666m. 
Here they were driven back by a violent storm of snow, and no fur- 
ther opportunity of ascent was afforded. 
November g, 1889, according to a reference made in the Geo- 
graphical Journal,* Mr. H. Remise Whitehouse made an ascent of the 
mountain and found upon the summit undoubted evidence that it had 
been climbed five days previously by Mr. James de Salis. I have 
not been able to consult Mr. Whitehouse’s original article, but from 
the reference given it is probable that to these gentlemen should be 
given credit for the first actual ascent, the first, at least, of which 
an account has been published. 
On the 26th of April, 1890, the ascent was essayed by Prof. 
Angelo Heilprin, and Mr. Frank C. Baker, members of an expedition 
organized under the auspices of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 
Philadelphia.t ‘Their route was taken from Ameca and their ascent 
followed the usual route along the margin of the glacier, the latter 
being named by Heilprin, Porfirio Diaz Glacier. They climbed to 
a point which was estimated to be about 75 yards below the sum- 
mit, but here two impassable crevices, cutting directly across the 
crest of the mountain, prevented further progress. The height of 
this point they determined by aneroid barometer to be 16,730 feet. 
Heilprin states in his account that the earliest recorded ascent of 
the mountain, so far as he was able to determine, had been made by a 
resident of Miraflores—Selis (?) by name—in November of the previous 
year. Itis doubtful, however, whether much credence should be 
given to these reports. 
Both of my guides informed me that they had been to the top, 
but a little acquaintance with them showed me that their statement, 
like many which they made, was to be taken with a considerable 
degree of allowance. 
Other residents of Ameca or the City of Mexico told me of others 
who had ascended the mountain, especially two. Englishmen, John- 
*Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 304, September, 1896. 
+OP%. cit. p. 258. 
