TEPIC  , a territory of

Mexico facing on the Pacific Ocean and bounded N., E. and S. by Sinaloa, Durango and Jalisco . Area 11,275 sq. m . Pop . (1900) 150,098 . The active volcano of Ceboruco rises in the western part of the territory . The slopes and valleys are densely wooded, the lower regions being very fertile and adapted to tropical agriculture . The rainfall is abundant, and the climate hot, damp and malarial . The Rio Grande de Lerma, or Santiago, is the principal river, whose sources are to be found on the high plateau in the state of Mexico . The next largest river is the Mezquital, which has its sources in the state of Durango, not far from the city of that name . The products of the territorial coast lands are sugar, cotton, tobacco, maize, palm oil, coffee, fine woods and medicinal plants . Mining attracts much attention in the sierras, and its mineral deposits are rich . There are cotton and cigarette factories at the town of Tepic, besides sugar works and distilleries on the plantations .

The

capital of the territory is Tepic (pop . 1900, 15,488), attractively situated on a small plateau 2950 ft. above sea level, 26 m . E. by S. of its port, San Bias, with which it is connected by rail . The territory of Tepic was detached from the State of, Jalisco in 1880 on account of the belligerent attitude of its population, chiefly composed of Indians . A territorial form of government places it more directly under the control of the national executive .