Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/269

Rh present time the stage-coacli route from San Luis to the north passes through Charcas, Matehuala, Cedral, La Ventura, and Saltillo; thence by rail to Laredo via Monterrey.

The diligence starts daily from San Luis at 4

The average distance traversed is about 82 miles a day. The taverns along the road are very inferior, and the tourist is advised to provide himself with beef-tea, canned goods, red wine, etc. The route from San Luis Potosí to Saltillo may be briefly described as follows: The road leads northward from the former city over the broad and level valley, in which mesquite, maguey, and nopal grow for many miles. The picturesque sierra bounds the plain on the east, while a rolling country is seen to the westward. The town of Montezuma, famous for its red wine, is passed on the way.

The first night is spent at Charcas, which has about the same elevation as San Luis Potosí. The meson is clean, and the water good. There is a telegraph here. The population numbers about 2,000, and the distance from San Luis is 91 miles.

Leaving Charcas, the road trends slightly to the northeast, and lies over a broad plain for several miles, when the mountains of Catorce come into view. The diligence stops at Matehuala for dinner. The hotel is tolerably well kept. This city has a population of 15,000, and contains many haciendas de beneficios, or silver-reducing works. There are also silver-mines in the vicinity.

Catorce is 13 miles distant. It has about 12,000 inhabitants, but no hotel. The population at one time reached 20,000. Some of the richest veins of silver in the Republic are found in the vicinity. They are owned chiefly by Spaniards and Englishmen. During the French invasion a mint was established here. The mines of Catorce have not paid well for the last few years; but it is said that some rich pockets of ore have been found very recently, while driving a tunnel, in one of the old Spanish claims.