Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/191

Rh Most of the coffee consumed in Eastern Mexico grows in the vicinity of Cordoba. There are many valuable plantations, and a few Americans have established themselves here. It may be remarked that the State of Vera Cruz produces more coffee than any other State in the Republic.

Leaving Cordoba, the road makes a long bend and crosses the bridge of Metlac, built over a river of the same name. The scenery is magnificent, and the ravine, or barranca, of Metlac contains one of the most skillful pieces of engineering to be found in the country. The general plan of building the Mexican railways has been to wind around the bases of the several mountains, rather than to drive long tunnels or construct large bridges. Passing the hamlet of Fortin (70¾ miles), the next station is Orizaba (82 miles).

Orizaba is the present capital of the State of Vera Cruz. It lies in a broad and very fertile valley. There is excellent pasturage in the vicinity, and fine cattle are raised. The staple products of the valley are tobacco and sugarcane. There are several haciendas of the latter, the largest of which is at Jalapilla. Tobacco grows in the outskirts of the city in large quantities. Even church-yards have been turned to use for planting this article. During the Spanish domination, when the restrictions on trade were so oppressive, the cultivation of tobacco was confined by law to the district including Cordoba and Orizaba, and the Government employed inspectors to pull up any leaves of the plant that were found growing outside of it.