WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES — VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 1 69 



and Spanish, corn, cotton, sweet potatoes, jicamas, flowers and espe- 

 cially roses, which bloom the whole year through, thanks to the favor- 

 able climate, the fertility of the soil, and the abundance of water, 

 with which they irrigate their meadows and fields. 



476. The Province of Tlapa contains mountain ranges, and val- 

 leys abounding in wheat, corn, and other cereals, and gold ore. 

 Farther on is the Province of Cuexco, with a hot climate and a large 

 native population ; here they raise quantities of wheat, corn, beans, 

 and other cereals. In this province lie the rich silver mines of Zum- 

 pango ; from here one goes to the port of Acapulco on the Pacific, 

 which lies in 17 "30'. This is where the ships coming to Mexico from 

 the Philippines and Peru, make port. The harbor is good, deep, and 

 safe, in a large cove formed by the sea. There is a Spanish town 

 there with as many as 70 residents, with a garrison and a Warden 

 appointed by His Majesty in consultation with his Royal Council of 

 the Indies. The climate is hot and deleterious, though healthy for 

 Negroes and mulattoes ; for that reason and because it is a wealthy 

 port, many of them live there. 



477. From Mexico to Tacubaya and Xalataco is the Acapulco 

 highway; to the right of it on the SW. is the Province of Taxco, 

 where there are many silver-mining towns, viz, Taxco, Sacualpa, 

 Sultepec, Temascaltepec and others, all Spanish settlements ; here 

 they have taken out great wealth of silver. In the mining town of 

 Sacualpa the Mercedarian Order possesses a rich mine, from which 

 they have extracted great wealth, with which they constructed their 

 large and sumptuous convent in Mexico City. 



478. Leaving Mexico by Tacubaya, another road branches off to 

 the W. by Santa Fe ; 7 leagues on is the Matalzingo Valley, with 

 the famous town of Toluca belonging to the Marques del Valle ; it 

 will contain over 200 Spanish residents, with a fine Franciscan con- 

 vent. The town is a busy trading center; they make the best ham 

 and bacon there in all New Spain, and great quantities of soap. [The 

 town and the whole valley] have a cold climate; it is full of cattle 

 ranches and farms ; this whole country is prolific and healthy. To 

 the SW. of this valley lie the above-mentioned mines of Temas- 

 caltepec, and the others covering a district of 18 leagues to the E. 



479. From the Toluca Valley one proceeds to Istlavaca or Mequete- 

 pec, a region rich in numerous farms of wheat, corn, and other 

 cereals ; here His Majesty, in consultation with the Supreme Council 

 of the Indies, appoints an Alcalde Mayor, Returning to Mexico City 

 and starting W., at 4 leagues one reaches Cuauhtitlan; Tepeji is 8 

 leagues [from there], and at 30 leagues from Mexico is the town 



