Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/384

368 could be more curious than the appearance of the principal street, which was lighted up, in honour of the occasion, with a number of large paper lanterns, covered with the figures of Saints and Angels, most brilliantly coloured, and suspended by ropes at equal distances from each other. They were all waving gently in the wind, and the streets were crowded with people, either seated quietly before their own doors, or flocking in from the neighbouring villages; the whole population of which was attracted by the unusual sight. The temperature of Itzmiquilpan is much milder than that of Mexico, the town being situated 1,205 feet below the level of the Capital. Zĭmăpān, which is 1,680 feet lower than Mexico, from its extremely sheltered position, approaches more to the atmosphere of Tierra Caliente. The intervening ridge of mountains is nearly 9,000 feet in height.

From Zĭmăpān to San José del Oro, there is an ascent of 3,477 feet; and from thence to the little Hacienda of the Encarnacion, where we passed the night after visiting the Iron mines, you rise about 1,000 feet more. In the neighbourhood of Zimapan the mountains have been entirely stripped of their timber, with that wasteful and improvident spirit, which characterised the proceedings of the old Mexican miners wherever the Mining laws were not most strictly enforced. Not a tree is now to be found within seven leagues of the town, although, from its situation in the centre of the great chain of