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MSXIOO. 



MEXICO. 



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ooMUtankbU oommeroe, which however biu deeruaed nooe the new 

 town, eilted Pueblo Nuoto de Us Tunuiilipu, hu been founded on 

 the left bank of thr rirer, about S milee from it In the interior are 

 the towns of Oordora and Orizara, built near the base of the steep 

 Moent, eodi containing about SOOO inhabitants; in their neighbourhood 

 ranch toboooo and coffee are grown. 



S. PaeUm comprehends by fiu* the greater portion of the table-land 

 of Tlaaeola, and also a considerable portion of the lower but very 

 hilly country, which extends to the Pacific, between the table-lands of 

 MixteeajHui, TenoohtitUn, and Miehoaoan. It contains the elerated 

 peaks ofthe Popocatepetl and Istaomhuatl. The western and southern 

 districts ai« fertile and well cultivated. In the country about the 

 capital great quantities of carbonate of soda arc coUect«l. PuAla, 

 the capital, formerly called PuebU de los Angdos, population 60,000, 

 is boilt in a weUcultirated plain, on the eonth side of a hill which is 

 wooded to its summit. The houses are of stone, large, and commodious. 

 The churches and convents are very numerous, and generally well- 

 built The cathedml is considered the finest and most magnificent 

 edifice in the whole r>-pubUc The town has some manufactunis of 

 cotton, wool, and earthenware, and a considerable tmde. South-east 

 of it is the tonn of Tthuacan ; population, 10,000. Cholcla is noticed 

 in a separate article. 



7. Tiaacala lies between Puebla and Vera Cruz, and is chiefly 

 occupied by Indians, wlioso former privileges have been confirmed by 

 the republic. The cajiital, TloKola, still surrounded by its ancieut 

 walls, IS some 30 miles K. of Puebla, and has about 4000 inhabitants. 



8. Mexico comprehends the two table-lands of Tenochtitlan and 

 Toluca, the north-western part of the table-land of Tlssoala, and a 

 considerable pcul of the lower but much more hilly cotmtry, which 

 lies to the south of tbo two first-mentioned table-lands, and extends 

 from them to the Pacific. Nenrly all the productions of tlie tropics, 

 together with those of the t«inpenite lone, might be grown in the 

 different regions belonging to tbin province ; the sugar cultivntod in the 

 plain of Cuantla y Amilpas, south of the table-land of Tenochtitlan, 

 and in some other plocea, to a considerable extent, is consumed in the 

 eonntiy. It contains several rich mines of silver, among others those 

 of Resl del Monte, Actopan, and Zimapon. There are also some 

 nines of lead and iron. Carbonate of soda is collected in tbo districts 

 sarrounding the lakes of Tezcuco and Bon Christoval. In the vale of 

 Tenochtitlan are several antiquities. Near the town of Tezcuco are 

 two large Mexican pyramids, or teocallis ; and about 20 miles farther 

 north, near the small town nf Tcotihuacan, is a group of nearly 200 

 of such pyramids, two of which, erected in honour of the sun and 

 moon respectively, are of great dimensions. Ou the mountainous 

 descent by which the rood leads from Tenochtitlan to the Pacific, near 

 the town of Cuemavacoa, are some remarkable ruins, which seem to 

 have been a fortress ; they are called the fortress of Xochialco. For 

 the description of the capital of the republic, see Mkxico. The capital 

 of tlie province is Trzcuco, situated on the eastern border of the lake 

 of thst name, whose waters formerly approached the town, but are 

 now about 3 miles from it : population, 5000. Chalco, population 

 8000, lies at the eastern extremity nf the lake of Chalco. Toluca, 

 population 1 2,000, about 1 miles north of the Nevado de Toluca, has a 

 fine cathedral, and is well-built Zimapan, population 9000, is situated 

 in the centre of the northern mining district This state has two 

 harboun on the Pacific, Acaitlco and Zscatula, at the mouth of the 

 Rio de Zaeatula ; but they are little frequented. 



9. Michoacan extends over tho whole ofthe tableland of Michoocan 

 and the low country lying between it and the Pacific, and a portion 

 of the billy country sou^ of these districts. The river Santiago 

 traverses its north-eastern districts, and within its territories are the 

 lake of Patzouaro, tho peak of Taocitaro, and the volcano of Xorullo. 

 Its productions are various, but no article of export is supplied, except 

 from the mines, which are situated along the eastern border of the 

 prorinw, in the mountain range which mns between the table-lands of 

 Toluoa and Michoocan. In the districts along the northern boundary- 

 line carbonate of soda is collected. The capital is Valladolid, or 

 ttontia, a large town, with 26,000 inhabitants. It contains a rich 

 Mlliedial ; and is well supplied vrith water by an aqueduct, erected 

 •* the expense of tbo biahoiiii, who resided here. Palieuaro, popu- 

 lation MOO, is built near the lake of that name, at whose northern 

 tttramity is the town of Ttinlumltan, population 2500, formerly the 

 capital of the kingdom of Michoocan. In the northern districts are 

 Zassero, popolaUian 6000, and Cuitco, a considerable place, on tho 

 bonks of an extsodve lake. Tlalptaolkua. in the principal mining 

 district, has »000 inhabitooto. 



10. Xaliaco, or Jalisoo, comprehends the whole of the hilly region 

 of Xalisoo, and the lower countiy between it and tho Pacific; iU 



-" I districta extend over the hills which form tho ascent to the 

 M of Qoeretaro, and coraprisa also a small portion of that 

 wHUn ito territories are the Uke of Cbapola, and the lower 

 eonne of tbo Rio Santiago. The productions are as vnrious as in 

 •lltboM italM wrbieh ore so divermfled in climate; but it supplies 

 for exportotico only s smsll quantity of cotton and some oochineoL 

 Tbo mine* ore not very impotiont Carbonate of soda is col- 

 Isolod on the x s tu i u bonier, and salt is made along the coast The 

 — 'Id is OUADSLAJAMA. Tho sooood pise* in importance is Lagot, 

 the aMrtara bonndaiy, on tb* tabU-lond of Quer«tai«, which 



contains 15,000 iuhsbitauU, and is wsll-built Farther west is San 

 Jttan d* tot Lagot, neariy as large a town, built in o deep bananoa, 

 and noted for its annual fair, which is held in the month of Deoembar. 

 Tepie, population 7000, is situated in a small plain, surrounded by 

 volcanic hills, and considerably elevated above the Kio Santiago, whi<n 

 flows at some distance north of it Between it and the town of Ouado- 

 lajara is a difficult mountain-pass, through the borranca of Michetiltie, 

 and the populous town of TtquHa. ban Slat, the principal port of 

 the state, is on the top of a rock 150 feet high, which is precipitoos 

 ou three sides, aud very steep on the fourth : it rises out of o low 

 swampy plain, which in the rainy season is completely under water. 

 At thu season the place is nnhoalthy ; and the inhabitants, amoimting 

 to 3000, remove to Tepic The rocky islands called Tres Marias lie 

 off ttiis harbour. South of Cape Corrientea are tbo two small harbours 

 of Navidad aud Qnatlan, which are little frequented. 



11. Colima comprises the low countiy surrounding the Volcano de 

 Colimo. Much cotton is grown in this district Oolima, the capital, is 

 built at the foot of the volcano of the same name. Purification, popu- 

 lation 3000, is in the neighbourhood of some gold-mines. 



12. Ouanoxuato comprehends the western districts of the table-land 

 of Quoretaro, a part of the Sierra Madre, and a tract noith of that 

 range. The widest and most fertile part of the Baxio lies within this 

 territory, which exports great quantities of wheat and ludiaii com. 

 Rich mines surrouad tho town of Quanaxuato. Besides the capital 

 [OCANAXnaToJ, it contains several populous places. In tlio Boxio 

 are — Ztlaya, with 10,000 inhabitants, and a fine cathedral; Salamanca, 

 population 15,000; Irapuato, with 16,000 inhabitants, anil manufac- 

 tures of cotton ; and Villa de Leon, population, 25,000. San Felipe, 

 in a wide valley between two branches of the Sierra Madre, was for- 

 merly a considerable town, but is now in ruins. San Miguel tl Oranie 

 has 16,000 inhabitants, and manufactures of cotton and irou. 



13. Queretaro extends over the eastern portion of the table-land of 

 Queretaro. It contains numerous and extensive fertile tracts, and a 

 portion of the Baxio. It has some productive silver-mines, the most 

 famous of which is El Doctor; and north of it is the quicksilver- 

 mine of San Ouofre. There are also some lead-mines. The capital is 

 Queretaro, population 30,000, a well-built place, 6362 feet above the 

 sea. It contains fteveral largo cliurches and other fine buildings ; 

 cari'ies on some manufactures of cotton aud woollen stuti'*, and has a 

 considerable trade. Catkreita, in the mining district is a considerable 

 place. San Juan del Rio, population 8000, is a uiiniog town, 30 miles 

 S.B. from Querettro. 



14. Siui Luis do Potosi comprehends by far the larger port of the 

 southern portion of tho great northern plain, and is traversed from 

 west to east by the river Tamoin, an afiliieut of the Panuco. It is 

 only rich in cattle. Tho mines are not numerous, but among them is 

 the rich mine of Catorce. There arc also some mines of copper. The 

 capital, San Luii de Potosi, is a large town, containing, with the 

 adjoining villages, 50,000 inh.ibitauts. It has many large and sub- 

 stantial buildings, and numerous churches. The Palacio occupies one 

 side of the Piazza de las Armas ; aud on the opposite side stands tho 

 cathedral. 



15. Zacatecas extends on both sides of the Sierra Madre. The 

 southern portion is productive in grain, and the northern arid plains 

 contain aibundance of cattle. Of the numerous mines, all of which 

 are situated in tho Sierra Madre, the most celebrated are those of 

 Zacatecas and Sombrorote. The territory has nine lakes, from which 

 carbonate of soda it coUucted in a crystallised state. Kot for from the 

 western boundary, an extensive tract is covered with immense ruins, 

 called Los Edificios, which seem to mark one of the resting-places 

 which the Aztecs erected ou their emigration towards the south. 

 Zacatecas contains several populous towns. Sombrerete, Freznillo, 

 lerez, Pinos, and Mochistldu have each a population varying from 

 14,000 to 18,000 : they ore all situated near the mines. The capital, 

 Zacalectu, with the adjacent village of Veta Qrande, contains 28,000 

 inhabitants, and is built in a ravine between high hills. The streets 

 are narrow aud crooked, but the churches are very large buildings of 

 stono : the most remarkable is La BAfa, which stands on a high eminence, 

 aiid looks like a fortification. Aifuai Calientet, situated towards tho 

 southern extremity of the state, in a richly cultivated country, has 

 85,000 inhabitants, and manufactures of cloth. Its cathedral has the 

 appearance of a Moorish mosque. 



16. Doroogo includes the Sierra Madre from 24° to 27° K. lat, and 

 comprehends also an extensive tract of level country skirting tho 

 range on the east And belonging to the great northern plain. The 

 terraces by which the mountains descend on the cost arc rich in agri- 

 cultural products, the plain itself in catUe, aud the Siemi Madre in 

 metals. The riche.Ht mines are near Quarisamey, San Diuas, and 

 Qovilsoes, situated in narrow valleys in tho Sierra Madre, at an eleva- 

 tion of more than 9000 feet above the sea. There are nlito mines of 

 lead ond abundance of iron-ore. Between the town of Durougo and 

 that of Nombre de Dios is a sterile plain, called Breba, covered with 

 bosolt, about 80 miles long and 16 miles wide. It contains on extinct 

 crater, more than 100 yards in circumference, and 80 yards deep. 

 The capital is Durango, or La Ciudad de Victoria, population 22,000, 

 o well-built place, with wide streetsand several fine buildings. Nombre 

 d* Diet has 7000 inhabitants. Pupatguiaro, in a valley of the Sierra 

 Madre, near the rich mines, has a population of 6000. In tbo plain 



