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Rh A church built by Cortes, and containing some quaint historical paintings, is yet standing. Cholula can also boast of a park. The town has an altitude of 6,906 feet according to Humboldt, or about 300 feet lower than Puebla. It is reached by carriage and by horse-cars (fare, first class, twenty-five cents). The distance is seven miles. Maguey and wheat are grown to a large extent in the vicinity.

Leaving Puebla, the road has an ascending grade to Apizaco. The heaviest is near the latter place. From Apizaco the land rises slightly, and the track crosses a gently undulating plain covered with extensive maguey plantations.

Guadalupe (186¼ miles) is the next station. The highest point of the Mexican Railway is near by. It is 8,333 feet above the Gulf of Mexico. This is the most elevated station in the Republic, except where the Mexican National Railway traverses the sierra between Toluca and the capital. The summit of the latter route is 9,974 feet. At various points of the road the tourist will see soldiers, wearing gray uniforms, and armed with carbines and sabers. They are the Guardia rural, or mounted patrols, who accompany the diligences, and protect the smaller towns from the depredations of robbers.

Passing Soltepec (192¾ miles); and Apam (205¾ miles), which has an elevation of 8,226 feet, the train reaches Irolo (215½ miles). A tramway leads from the last station to Pachuca, thirty-seven miles distant. Pachuca is one of the oldest mining towns in Mexico, and many of its mines are worked at the present day; but, as the daily passenger-train from Vera Cruz and Apizaco does not connect with the tramway, the tourist is advised to proceed directly to the capital, and make an excursion to Pachuca, taking the outward morning train. (For description, see Section III.)