342 



MONOPOLY OF THE TOBACCO TRADE. 



in spring are gathered and taken to the sheds. Sartorius, in 

 his work on Mexico, says of its culture on the plantation: 

 " Various kinds of tobacco are planted, mostly that with 

 the short, dingy, yellow blossoms, which has a very large, 

 strong leaf. But there is little doubt that the sorts would 

 be more carefully selected, if the trade were not fettered by 

 the monopoly. Most of the government planters enter into 

 an arrangement with the small farmers and peasants who 

 have to grow a certain number of plants, on condition of 

 handing over the harvest at a low figure six to eight dollars 

 per crop. These aviados receive something in advance, and 

 their chief profit consists in securing the sand leaf and the 



MEXICAN TOBACCO PLANTATION. 



greater part of the after-harvest, which they sell to the con- 

 trabandists. It is indeed allowed to export whatever remains ; 

 but it is attended with so many annoyances from the author- 

 ities, that it is never attempted. The many ships which 

 enter the Mexican harbor of the east coast with European 

 manufactures, find no return freight except gold and silver, 

 cochineal, vanilla, a few drugs and goat skins, all of which 

 take up very little room in the ships (money is usually sent 



