lakes entered that of Tezcuco. At that time, it is stated that the water issued in torrents from the sides of the mountains, and that in it were found fishes peculiar to the Tierra Caliente, and unknown, either before or since, upon the Table-land. It is not probable that a similar phenomena should be of frequent recurrence; but causes much less extraordinary in their effect, would be sufficient to endanger the town. Should the snows of Pŏpŏcătēpĕtl, for instance, be melted by a violent eruption,[1] (an event by no means improbable, since that volcano has been very recently ascertained to be in a state of activity,) an immediate inundation from the lakes of Chălcŏ and Xŏchĭmĭlcŏ would take place; nor is there any channel, through which their waters could now find an issue. In the rainy years of 1768, and 1764, Mexico was in the greatest danger, and formed an island for several months: in 1772 it would have been reduced to a similar state, had not a water-spout, (una manga de agua,) which traversed the valley, fortunately burst near the Northern, instead of the Southern extremity, where its effect was diminished by the vicinity of the Canal of Huĕhuĕtōcă.
- ↑ Humboldt proves the possibility of such an event, by stating, that when at Guyaquil, on the coast of the Province of Quito, in 1802, he himself saw the cone of the mountain of Cotopaxi, (superior in height to Popocatepetl) so thoroughly heated in a single night as to be entirely divested of its enormous coating of snow, (son énorme calotte de neige).
