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metres*. The ascent of the Cordilleras is. covered with thick forests, while the central table land is almost always arid and destitute of vegetation. The most elevated summits, many of which rise beyond the limits of perpetual snow, are crowned with oak and pine. In the equinoctial region the different climates rise as it were by stories above one another: between the 15° and 22° of latitude the mean temperature of the shore which is humid and unhealthy for individuals born in cold countries, is from 25 to 27 centigrade degreest; and that of the central table land which is celebrated on account of the great salubrity of the air, is from 16 to 17 degrees. There is a want of rain in the interior, and the most populous part of the country is destitute of navigable rivers.:

extent.

Territorial A hundred and eighteen thousand square leagues of which two thirds are under the temperate zone; and the third contained under the torrid zone enjoys in a great measure on account of the great elevation of its table lands, a temperature similar to what we experience in spring in Spain and the south of Italy.

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† 77° and 80°. 6 of Fahr. Trans.

From 60°. 8 to 62°. 6 of Fahr. Trans.

Population. Five millions eight hundred and forty thousand inhabitants, whereof two millions and a half are copper coloured Indians, one million Mexican Spaniards, seventy thousand European Spaniards; almost no Negro slaves. The population is concentrated on the central table land. The clergy only consists of 14 thousand individuals. The population of the capital 135,000 souls.

Agriculture.

The banana, the manioc,

The

maize, cerealia, and potatoes, are the foundation of the nourishment of the people. cerealia cultivated under the torrid zone, wherever the surface rises to twelve or thirteen hundred metres of elevation* produce twentyfour for one. The maguey (agave) may be

considered as the Indian vine. The cultivation of the sugar cane has lately made a rapid and Vera Cruz annually exports progress; Mexican sugar to the value of 1,300,000 piastres. The finest cotton is produced on the western coast. The cultivation of the cocoa and indigo is equally neglected. The vanilla of the forests of Quilate produces annually 900 millares. Tobacco is carefully cultivated in the districts of Orizaba and Cordova; wax abounds in Yucatan; the cochineal harvest of Oaxaca

* 3930 or 4264 feet. Trans.

amounts to 400,000 kilogrammes per annum. Horned cattle have greatly multiplied in the Provincias internas and on the eastern coast between Panuco and Huasacualco. The tithes of the clergy, the value of which points out the increase of territorial produce, have increased two fifths within the last ten years.

Mines. Annual produce in gold, 1600 kilogrammes* in silver, 537,000 kilogrammes† : in all 23 million of piastres, or nearly the half of the precious metals annually extracted from the mines of North and South America. The mint of Mexico, has furnished from 1690 to 1803, more than 1353 millions of piastres, and from the discovery of New Spain to the commencement of the nineteenth century, probably 2028 millions of piastres, or nearly two fifths of the whole gold and silver, which in that interval of time have flowed from the New Continent into the Old. Three districts of mines, Guanaxuato, Zacatecas, and Catorce, which form a central group between the 21° and 24° of latitude, yield nearly the half of all the gold and silver extracted from the mines of New Spain. The vein of Guanaxuato alone, richer than the mineral depository of Potosi,

* 4289 lb. troy. Trans.
† 1,439,832 lb. troy. Trans.

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furnishes at an average 130,000 kilogrammes of silver annually, or a sixth of all the silver which America annually throws into circulation. The single mine of Valenciana in which the expence of working exceeds four millions and a half of francs per annum, has for the last forty years never ceased to yield annually to the proprietors a net profit of more than three millions of francs: this profit sometimes amounted to six millions; and it amounted to twenty millions in the space of a few months for the family of Fagoaga at Sombrerete. The produce of the mines of Mexico has tripled in fifty-two years and sextupled in a hundred years; and it will admit of greater increase as the country shall become more populous and industry and information become more diffused. The working of the mines far from being unfavourable to agriculture, has favoured cultivation in the most uninhabited regions. The wealth of the Mexican mines consists more in the abundance than in the intrinsic riches of the silver minerals, which only amount at an average to .0002 (or to three or four ounces per quintal of 100 pounds). The quantity of minerals extracted by means of mercury is to that produced by smelting in the proportion of 3 to 1. The process of amalgamation used is long, and occasions a great waste of mercury: the consumption for all New Spain amounts to

700,000 kilogrammes per annum. It is to be presumed that the Mexican Cordilleras will one day supply the mercury, iron, copper, and lead necessary for internal consumption.

Manufactures. Value of the annual produce of manufacturing industry from seven to eight millions of piastres. The manufacture of hides, cloth, and calicoes, have been on the increase since the conclusion of the last century.

Commerce. Importation of foreign produce and goods 20 millions of piastres; exportation in agricultural produce and manufac tures of New Spain six millions of piastres. The mines produce in gold and silver 23 millions of which eight or nine are exported on account of the king: consequently if we deduct from the remaining 15 millions of piastres, 14 millions to pay the excess of imports over the exports, we find the specie of Mexico hardly increases a million per annum.

Revenue.

The gross revenue amounts to 20 millions of piastres, whereof 5,500,000 from the produce of the gold and silver mines, four millions from the tobacco farm, three millions from the alcavalas, 1,300,000 from the Indian capitation tax, and 800,000 from the duty on pulque or fermented juice of the agave.

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