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PREFATORY. 



The material herein contained was originally intended to be appended to 

 the author's " Travels in Mexico," as it in a measure completes and rounds 

 out the larger volume ; but the limitations of space and the relentless veto 

 of publishers prevented. There is no repetition. The aim of the work is 

 to )resent an exact statement of Mexico's natural resources, drawn from 

 rci able statistical works, — such as the Estadistica de la Repiiblica Mexi- 

 cat a, — collated, and mainly translated, by the author. The facts are given 

 witJiout exaggeration, at the same time without depreciation ; and the reader 

 may draw his own deductions as to Mexico's future from this accurate pres- 

 entation of her past. 



The soil, climate, and productions are shown, of every section, with dis- 

 tinctive features ; the great coffee, sugar, and cotton districts, with a full 

 list of all the precious dye and cabinet woods, delicious fruits, and medicinal 

 plant's, which make tropical Mexico so valuable a neighbor to the United 

 States. 



Under "Mines and Mining" are given the locations of the great deposits 

 of precious metals ; abstracts from the mining laws of Mexico, for the guid- 

 ance of those desiring to locate mines; and full information on the exact 

 localities of the gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, quicksilver, and coal depos- 

 its, a,nd the valuable Mexican minerals. 



An extensive Guide is added, showing every point of importance on every 

 railroa-^ running into and through Mexico, with time and distance tables, and 

 a. list til attractions to tourists. There being no longer any Great West to 

 which tf-ade and travel may flow, it is believed that the country of the future 

 lies in the South, — in Mexico, Central and South America. 



This book, then, is offered as an indication of what may be found there, 

 and as a guide by the way. 



It is not perfect; it is not exhaustive; and it doubtless contains errors 

 which it will be the aim of the author to correct in subsequent editions. 



In this first edition, ten thousand copies are issued, at a price nearly nomi- 

 nal so that It shall have an immediate and wide circulation. 



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