The highest of these is Popocatapetl, south of the
city of Mexico and nearly midway between the Atlantic and Pacific.
East of this mountain lies Orizabo, little below it in height, and San
Martin or Tuxtla, 9,700 feet high, on the coast south of Vera Cruz.
West of it is Jorullo, 4,000 feet, and Colima, 12,800, near the Pacific
coast. The volcanic energy continues southward toward the Isthmus,
but decreases north of this volcanic range. These mountains have shown
little signs of activity in recent times. Popocatapetl emits smoke, but
there is no record of an eruption since 1540. Orizabo has been quiet
since 1566. Tuxtla had a violent eruption in 1793, but since then has
remained quiescent. Colima is the only one now active. For ten years
past it has been emitting ashes and smoke. The most remarkable of these
volcanoes is Jorullo, which closely resembled Monte Nuovo, described in
Chapter XIII., in its mode of origin.
Popocatapetl, the hill that smokes, in the Mexican language, the huge
mountain clothed in eternal snows, and regarded by the idolaters of old
as a god, towers up nearly 18,000 feet above the level of the sea, and
in the days of the conquest of Mexico was a volcano in a state of fierce
activity. It was looked upon by the natives with a strange dread, and
they told the white strangers with awe that no man could attempt to
ascend its slopes and yet live; but, from a feeling of vanity, or the
love of adventure, the Spaniards laughed at these fears, and accordingly
a party of ten of the followers of Cortes commenced the ascent,
accompanied by a few Indians.
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