308 



POPULATION OF MEXICO. 



CIIAP.XXi; 



Entrench- 

 iiient ot 

 Xocliicalco. 



Estimate of 

 population. 



Births and 

 Ofcaths. 



FtHXl 



rounded by a group of smaller elevation, disposed in a 

 regular series. Another ancient object worthy of notice 

 is tlie military entrenchment of Xochicalco, to the S.S. W. 

 of the town of Cuernavaco, near Tetlama. It consists 

 of a hill .383 feet hiyh, surrounded by ditches or trenches, 

 and divided into five terraces covered with masonry ; 

 the whole forming a truncated pyramid, the four faces 

 of which correspond to the four cardinal points. The 

 porphyritic stones are adorned with hieroglyphical figures, 

 among wJiich are crocodiles, and men sitting cross-legged 

 in the Asiatic manner. Other relics and places connected 

 with the history of the conquest are shown to the 

 stranger ; but of these it is unnecessary to speak. 



Our author estimates the population of Mexico as 

 follows : — 



Inhabitants. 



White Europeans, 2,500 



White Creiiles, 65,000 



Copper-coloured natives, 3U,000 



Mestizoes, mixture of Whites and Indians,... 20,500 

 Mulattoes, 10,000 



137,000 



The annual numljer of births for a mean term of 100 

 years is 59.30, and that of deaths 5050 ; while in New 

 Spain in general, the relation of the births to the popu- 

 lation is as 1 to 17, and that of the deatlis as 1 to 30, so 

 that the mortality in the capital appears much greater. 

 The great conflux of sick persons to the hospitals, and 

 on the other hand the celibacy of the nun"tcrous clergy, 

 the progress of luxury, and other cau'scs, induce this 

 disproportion. 



According to researches matle by the Count de 

 Revillagigedo, the consumption of IMexico in 1791 was 

 as follows : — 



I. ANIMAL FOOD. 



Oxen, 16,300 



Caive.s, 450 



Sheep,. 278,!t23 



Ho-s, 50,676 



Kids and Rabbits, 24,000 



Fowls, 1,255,340 



Ducks 125,000 



Turkeys, 205,000 



Pif^eons, «5.300 



Partridges 140.000 



