CITY OF MEXICO. 121 



" god of war," hieroglypliic paintings, Montezuma's sliield, and the effigies of 

 several deities. Every year adds to the contents of the National Museum, and 

 systematic explorations made in the ground, and especially in the lacustrine 

 depressions, cannot fail to reveal numerous other treasures. Mexico already 

 possesses some large scholastic establishments, notably a school of medicine now 

 installed in the old palace of the Inquisition, and a preparatory school occupying the 

 old convent of the Jesuits. Aztec literature is studied in a college founded for 

 the Indians ; several learned and literary societies publish useful memoirs ; the 

 chief library has over 150,000 volumes ; the j)icture-gallery is one of the richest 

 in the New World. 



The population of Mexico has increased fivefold since the beginning of the 

 century ; nevertheless it has already been outstripped by many cities of more 

 recent origin. A hundred years ago it was the largest place in the New World ; 

 now it is exceeded not only by New York and several other cities in the United 

 States, but also by some of its rivals in Latin America. Nevertheless, Mexico, 

 situated on the " bridge of the world " between the two oceans, is assuredly one 

 of the vital points of the planet one of those points whose historic importance 

 cannot fail to advance with the general progress of the world. It has doubtless 

 lost the trade between the Pliilippines and Spain which it had formerly enjoj'ed 

 through colonial monopolies ; but on the other hand the internal traffic has greatly 

 developed. Bernai Diaz already remarked that " no European city possessed a 

 market comparable to that of the Anahuac capital ; at least none possess such a 

 fruit market, where are seen in abundance the products of every zone — cherries and 

 pears side by side with pineapples and bananas." One of the most curious sights 

 in Mexico is that presented every morning on the Yiga Canal by the flotillas of 

 boats ladened with flowers, fruits and vegetables. The wholesale import trade is 

 almost entirely in the hands of English, American, German, French and other 

 foreign traders. These industrious strangers have nearly all acquired a position of 

 comfort, while the native population of mendicants, leperos, pelados or poj-dio.-icros, 

 still swarms in the suburbs. 



Despite the pure air descending from its snowy mountains, Mexico is not a 

 healthy place. The mortality, which in certain years has exceeded the births 

 four times, averages from 32 to 33 per thousand, which is much higher than 

 that of London, Paris, and most other cities of West Europe. This high death- 

 rate is due mainly to the impurity of the soil and waters. Mexico stands only a 

 few inches above the level of Lake Texcoco, with a subsoil of impermeable argil- 

 laceous deposits : hence the least excavation on the surface of the ground becomes 

 at once flooded with a brackish water saturated with organic substances. The 

 gradual upheaval of the bed of Lake Texcoco threatens destruction to the city, which 

 has already been more than once laid under water. After every downpour, the 

 streets are filled with slush, and when the rains last long enough the whole place 

 becomes transformed to a swamp or even to a veritable qutigniire. The roadways 

 are also badly kept, while the drains, flooded with an almost stagnant water, con- 

 tribute much to the putrefaction of the Suil. "The city is threatened with asphyxia," 



