rates, and then by wagon-road to El Oro. The ore is worked in the same manner as in California. The country rock is slate. The main shaft of the mines at El Oro is now full of water, and steam-pumps are about to be used to raise it.
Gold-mines are found also at Tlalpujahua, nine miles from El Oro station. A stage-coach runs to them. These mines are among the oldest in Mexico, and were worked before the Conquest. It may be remarked that there is a great deal of undeveloped mineral wealth in the State of Michoacan. The well-known mining districts of Trojes, Chapatuato, Ozumatlan, and Sinda, can be reached in two days on horseback. The ores of gold and silver with a quartz gangue occur here. But, as the tourist will have difficulty in procuring horses and provisions at El Oro, the journey to these mining districts can be made more easily from Morelia, the capital of the State.
Returning to the railroad, take the left-hand side of the train for the view after leaving El Oro. We now cross the State line again, as the track is built partly in the State of Mexico and partly in Michoacan. The next station is Cañon (167·70 kilometres). Near by the tourist may see the ruins of a stone dam, here a supply of water was formerly stored for the benefit of cattle and sheep grazing in the vicinity. Soon the road-bed begins to descend rapidly and enters the Cañon de los Zopilotes, or Turkey-Buzzard Canon.
The creek of El Salto runs through the canon and forms a cascade, which is a grand sight in the rainy season. The track has been blasted out of the solid basalt rock, and is a skillful piece of engineering. The cañon is about a mile long, and the observer on looking down may see a trail at the bottom running along the course of the roaring torrent. Trails are very common all over Mexico, as horse-back-riding has been the principal means of communication up to the present day. Nearly every cañon, valley,
