one of great importance; and the road from Zĭmăpān although dangerous and full of precipices, is described as the boldest and most picturesque portion of the Sierra Madre, south of Durango.
From Mexico to the Doctor, there are two routes, the one by San Juan del Rio and Cădĕrēită, and the other a bridle-road, which is laid down in my map of routes, as given to me by one of the agents of the Catorce Company.
The mountainous district commences on crossing the river Tūlă, a little to the South of Tĕpĕtĭtlān, (fourteen leagues from Huĕhuĕtōcă,) from whence a succession of steep and barren ridges extends to the Indian village of Tĕcŏsōutlă, situated in a valley, well watered, and abounding in fruitful gardens. From Tĕcŏsōutlă the road crosses the river Pātĕ, in the vicinity of which there are mineral springs, emitting a dense sulphureous vapour; and from thence it runs to the foot of a bleak and lofty mountain called Sŏmbrĕrētĕ, upon which the Rancho of Olveira stands. The Rancho is nine leagues from Tĕcŏsōutlă, and four from El Dŏctōr, which it is however impossible to reach in a single day.
The first of the four last leagues traverses a barren and rocky plain; the second winds up a mountain of porphyry and marble, so steep as to be almost inaccessible; and the third lies through a valley, covered with Oak, Ash, the White Birch, and the Pine, with plots of rich soil at intervals. Of the fourth, the first half is the ascent of the mountain
