Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/186

170 with ashes. The beautiful hacienda of Jorullo was destroyed, as well as other plantations, by the volcanic deposits of sand and mud and stones. Great numbers of live-stock perished, and hundreds of families were reduced to want. In the centre of the ovens six enormous masses were projected to the height of from 1,300 to 1,650 feet above the old level of the plain. The most elevated of these is the volcano of Jorullo.

The limits of Michoacan were not distinctly defined till 1787, when the intendencias were founded, previous to which time the political government had been invested in alcaldes mayores and corregidores, and governors. The extent of the ancient province was much larger than the state of the present day, since it comprised the territory of the modern state of Guerrero. Besides this reduction, minor variations have been made in its boundary lines, and its present area contains about 3,620 square leagues, its greatest length being 94 and its greatest width 66 leagues. On the south-west it is bounded by the Pacific, its coast line being thirty-nine leagues in length. Michoacan is abundantly watered by rivers abounding in fine fish of many varieties, from the quantity and excellence of which the state derives its name, which means in the Tarascan tongue the land of fish.

When the authorities at Valladolid became aware of the danger which threatened their city, they were greatly disturbed, the more so because they found themselves without a governor or military chief. They nevertheless made some show of preparations for defence, beginning to cast cannon and enlist soldiers under the direction of the bishop Abad y Queipo and the prebendado Agustin Ledos. News, however,