Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/248

220 The usual plan of building railways in Mexico, i. e. , to begin at both ends, and work toward an intermediate point, has been adopted by the Mexican National Railway Company, and on October 1, 1883, about thirty miles of track had been laid from Manzanillo to Colima. The distance between the two towns via Armeria is 60 miles by rail.

Leaving Colima, the Mexican National line makes a great bend to the northeast, curves around the northern side of Lake Chapala, and then runs southeasterly to Morelia via Zamora.

The railroad from Manzanillo to Morelia will be about 380 miles long. (See chapter on railways in Part First.)

The climate of Manzanillo is unhealthy for Europeans, and the tourist is advised not to linger long in the vicinity.

This is a rough trip, owing to the absence of wagon-roads and hotels along the route. It has charms, however, especially to the geologist and lover of natural scenery; and the traveler will be amply repaid for the four or five days of comparative hardship necessary for the journey.

Tourists should hire saddle-horses in Pátzcuaro. If there are two or three in the party, it will be expedient to take a man-servant or mozo. Three horses and a mozo can be obtained at the rate of $4 daily, and the price of stabling. The cost of feeding each horse will be about one real a day. If the traveler wishes to go alone, and is able to talk in Spanish, a mozo will be unnecessary, although useful.

Leaving the quaint town of Pátzcuaro, the road ascends for about two miles, when a densely-wooded plateau is reached. This route, formerly practicable for wagons, is well paved with stone on the heavy grades, and passes