Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/336

320 continues across the plains of Tĕpētĭtlān, to the Hacienda of that name, (five leagues from Istlahuaca,) where the mountains of El Oro and Tlălpŭjāhuă commence. Of the remaining nine leagues, the first four are barren and desolate; the five last extend through a succession of Pine forests, in the midst of which the Real of Tlălpŭjāhuă stands.

The ancient village of San Pedro and San Pablo, now called Tlalpujahua, where the officers of the Company formed in England under that name reside, is situated in North latitude 19º 17' 30", West longitude 100º 1'.15', upon the borders of a little stream, which winds down the valley of Tlălpŭjāhuă into that of Tĕpĕtōngŏ, where it joins the river of Tepetongo, which subsequently unites with that of Lerma. The town is environed by mountains covered with pines, the most considerable of which are Lă Sŏmēră, to the North-east, Săn Lŏrēnzŏ to the South, and the Cerro del Gallo to the East of the town: the first of these is 1,430 feet, the second 1,160 feet, and the third 8.51 feet, above the level of the bridge of Tlălpŭjāhuă, which, again, is 822 feet higher than the town of Mexico, and 8,581 feet above the level of the sea.

It is upon the slope of the mountains by which the valley of Tlalpujahua is formed that the principal mines of the Company are situated, in the hollows, (Cañadas,) of Las Animas, Los Zăpătērŏs, and Labōrda. Their position is extremely favourable for drainage by adits; and the shafts are neither