INDIANS OF MECIIOACAN. 



291 



CHAP. XXIII 



Co turned of the Indians of Mcchoacan 



ground as resulting from the flow of lava over the 

 original surface of the plain. 



The Indians of this province are represented as being Indiansofthe 

 the most industrious of New Spain. They have a con- 1"^°^'"'^^ 

 siderable talent for cutting out images in wood, and 

 dressing them in clothes made of the pith of an aquatic 

 plant, which being very porous imbibes the most vivid 

 colours. Two figures of this kind, which Humboldt 

 brought home for the Queen of Prussia, are here repre- 

 sented. They exhibit the characteristic traits of the 

 American race, together with a strange mixture of the 

 ancient costume with that which was introduced by the 

 Spaniards. 



From Valladolid, the ancient kingdom of Mechoacan, Retnm to 

 the travellers returned to Mexico by the elevated plain ^^^xico. 

 of ToJiicca, after examining the volcanic mountains in 

 the vicinity. They also visited the celebrated cheiran- 

 thostaemou of Cervantes, a tree of which it was at one 



