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Rh properly, a stop should be made at Huehuetoca or El Salto, where a horse can be procured for the short journey. The traveler can leave Mexico in the morning by either road (i. e. , the Mexican Central or the Mexican National), inspect the ancient canal, and return in the afternoon train.

Leaving Huehuetoca, we pass Kilometer (53 kilometres), and the next station is El Salto (62 kilometres). Here the Mexican National Railway crosses the Mexican Central again. (Elevation of El Salto, 7,131 feet.) Between Huehuetoca and El Salto the road runs northwest, but from the latter station to San Antonio the general course of the track is westerly.

The snow-clad volcanoes are no longer visible after leaving Tula (80 kilometres) (Hotel Diligencias). This town was once the great Toltec capital. Ruins are found on the Hill of Treasure (see p. 48). From this station, having an elevation of 6,658 feet, the up-grade becomes quite perceptible for a few miles. Much wheat and maize grow along the line, especially in the river-bottoms.

We now stop at San Antonio (93 kilometres; elevation, 7,216 feet). Trees of nopal, pirú, and huisachi are abundant in places where the land has not been cultivated. The general direction of the route is now west-northwest. The country is rolling, and good for stock-raising. Passing the stations of Angeles (112 kilometres). Marqués (122 kilometres), Nopala (130 kilometres), Dañú (138 kilometres), Polotitlan (151 kilometres), and Cazadero (161 kilometres), the train describes a long curve, and reaches San Juan del Rio (191 kilometres). The highest point of the railroad is just east of Marqués station. Here the altitude is 8,134 feet, or 787 feet above the capital. Thence the grade is downward toward Polotitlan—elevation, 7, 534 feet, and San Juan del Rio—6,300 feet.