CHAP. X.] KINGDOM OF NEW SPAIN. 3 half a million of arrobas, or 6,250,000 kilo grammes *, which at three piastres oba the is equal to seven millions and a half of francs.f We have already observed that the ancient Mexicans were only acquainted with the sirop of honey, that of the metl (agave) and the sugar of maize cane. The sugar-cane, culti vated from the remotest antiquity in the East Indies, in China‡, and in the South Sea Islands, was imported by the Spaniards, from the Canary Islands into the Island of St. Domingo, from whence it was successively introduced into the Island of Cuba and New Spain. Peter D'Atienza planted the first sugar-canes about the year 1520 § in the environs of the town of Conception de la Vega. Gonzalo de Velosa constructed the first cylinders; and in 1535, more than 30 sugar works were already established in the island of St. Domingo, of which many were served by a hundred Negro slaves, * 13,793,750 lb. avoird. Trans. † 312,5251. sterling. Trans. I am even tempted to believe that the process used by us in the making of sugar, has been brought from Oriental Asia. I recognized at Lima, in Chinese paintings representing the arts and trades, cylinders placed horizontally, and put in motion by a mill, cauldrons and purifying apparatus such as are now to be seen in the West Indies. § Not in 1506, as is generally said.Oviedo, who came to America, in 1513, says expressly, that he saw the first sugar works established at St. Domingo. (Historia natural de Indias, lib. iv. c. 8.) and cost from 10 to 12 thousand ducats in expense of erection. It is remarkable enough that among the first sugar mills (trapiches) constructed by the Spaniards in the beginning of the 16th century, some of them were already put in motion not by horses, but by hydraulical wheels, although these same water mills (trapiches) or molinos de agua, have been introduced in our days into the Island of Cuba, as a foreign invention, by refugees from Cape François. In 1553 the abundance of sugar was already so great in Mexico, that it was exported from Vera Cruz and Acapulco into Spain and Peru.* This last exportation has long ceased, as Peru produces now more sugar than is necessary * "Besides gold and silver, Mexico furnishes also much sugar and cochineal, two very precious commodities, feathers and cotton.-Few Spanish vessels return without a cargo, which is not the case in Peru, that has however falsely the reputation of being richer than Mexico. This last country has also preserved a much greater number of its inhabitants. -It is a very fine and very populous country, to which nothing is wanting but more frequent rains.-New Spain exports to Peru, horses, beef, and sugar."-This remarkable passage of Lopez de Gomara, who describes so well the state of the Spanish Colonies towards the middle of the 16th century, is only to be found in the edition de la conquista de rico published at Medina del Campo, 1553, fol. 139. It Is wanting in the French translation printed at Paris 1587, p. 191 + CHAP. X.] KINGDOM OF NEW SPAIN. for its own consumption. As the population of *From 75° to 77° of Fahrenheit. Trans. Trans. Trans. under the tropics, on the rapid declivity of mountains, this mean temperature of 20° at 1000 metres of elevation* above the level of the ocean. On table land of a great extent, the heat is increased to such a degree by the reverberation of the earth, that the mean temperature of the city of Mexico is 17° instead of 13°. 7†; that of Quito, is 15°. 8 instead of 11. 5. The result of these data is, that, on the central table land of Mexico, the maximum of heat at which the sugar-cane vegetates vigorously without suffering from frost in winter, is not 1000 but from 1400 to 1500 metres.§ In favourable exposures, especially in valleys sheltered by mountains from the north winds, the highest limit of sugar cultivation reaches as high as 2000 metres. In fact, if the height of the plains of San Gabriel, which contain many fine sugar plantations, is only 980 metres; on the other hand the environs of Celaya, Salvatierra, Irapuato and Santiago, are beyond 1800 metres of absolute elevation. I have been assured that the sugar-cane plantations of Rio Verde, situated to the north of Guanaxuato under 22° 30′ of latitude, are at an elevation of 2200 metres ||, in a narrow valley surrounded by high Cordil leras, and so warm that its inhabitants frequently suffer from intermittent fevers. 1 discovered, on examining the testament of Cortez*, that in the time of this great man there were sugar works near Cuyoacan in the valley of Mexico. This curious fact proves what is indicated by several other phenomena, that this valley is colder in our days than it was at the commencement of the conquest, because a great number of trees then diminished the effect of the north winds which now blow with impetuosity. Those accustomed to see sugarcane plantations in the West India Islands, will learn with the same astonishment, that in the kingdom of New Granada the greatest quantity of sugar is not yielded in the plains, on the banks of the river de la Madalena, but on the ascent of the Cordilleras, in the valley of Guaduas, on the road from Honda to Santa Fe, in a district, which, according to my barometrical measurement, is from 1200 to 1700 metrest above the level of the sea. * "I order an examination to be made whether in my estados lands have been taken from the natives to be planted with vines; I wish also an examination to be made as to the ground given by me in these last years to my domestic Bernardino del Castillo for the establishment of a sugar plantation near Cuyoacan." (Manuscript Testament of Hernan Cortez, executed at Seville, the 18th August, 1548, art. 48.) † From 3936 to 5576 feet. Trans. |