44 



MEXICAN BEE-HIVES. 



by cords from the roof, iu the same manner 

 that the wooden ones in the villages are hung to 

 the eaves of the cottages. On one side of the hive, 

 half-way between the ends, there is a small hole 

 made, just large enough for a loaded bee to enter, 

 and shaded by a projection, to prevent the rain 

 from trickling in. In this hole, generally repre- 

 senting the mouth of a man, or some monster, the 

 head of" which is moulded in the clay of the hive, 

 a bee is constantly stationed, whose office is no 

 sinecure ; for the hole is so small, he has to draw- 

 back every time a bee wishes to enter or to leave 

 the hive. A gentleman told me that the experi- 

 ment had been made by marking the sentinel ; 

 when it was observed, that the same bee continued 

 at his post a whole day. 



When it is ascertained by the weight that the hive 

 is full, the end pieces are removed, and the honey 

 withdrawn. The hive we saw opened was only 

 partly tilled ; which enabled us to see the 

 economy of the interior to more advantage. The 

 honey is not contained in the elegant hexagonal 

 cells of our hives, but in wax bags, not quite so 

 large as an egg. These bags, or bladders, are 

 hung round the sides of the hive, and appear about 

 half full, the quantity being probably just as great 

 as the strength of the wax will bear without 

 tearing. Those nearest the bottom, being better 

 supported, are more filled than the upper ones. 

 In the centre or lower part of the hive, we ob- 

 served an irregular-shaped mass of comb furnished 

 with cells, like those of our bees, all containing 

 young ones, in such an advanced state, that when 

 we broke the comb and let them out they flew 

 merrily away. During this examination of the 

 hive, the comb and the honey were taken out, and 

 the bees disturbed in every way ; but they never 

 stung us, though our faces and hands were covered 

 with them. It is said, however, that there is a 

 bee in the country which does sting : but the 

 kind we saw seem to have neither the power nor 

 the inclination, for they certainly did not hurt us ; 

 and our friends said they were always " niuy 

 manso," very tame, and never stung any one. 

 The honey gave out a rich aromatic perfume, and 

 tasted differently from ours : but possessed an 

 agreeable flavour. 



On the 26th of April, an answer to the appli- 

 cation of the merchants, for permission to ship 

 money in the Conway, was received from Mexico. 

 But the terms in which the licence was worded 

 showed, that although government had felt it right, 

 in conformity with a proclamation issued some 

 time before, to grant this permission, yet they still 

 retained the characteristic feeling of doubt as to 

 the expediency of allowing gold and silver to leave 

 the country. They could not, all at once, divest 

 themselves of the mistaken idea, that money, inde- 

 pendent of its exchangeable value, was riches. 

 They had not yet learned to separate the idea of 

 wealth and power from the mere possession of 

 gold and silver ; not seeing that it was solely by 

 the process of exchanging them for goods and for 

 services which they stood in need of, that either 

 wealth or power could arise from the precious 

 metals, of which they had more than they wanted. 

 .J nster notions, it is true, were by this time begin- 

 ning to be disseminated amongst them ; and the 

 government perceived the importance of viewing 

 the precious metals as mercantile commodities of 



exchangeable value, and, since they were the 

 staple produce of the country, of encouraging their 

 production and export. That enlarged views 

 should at once take deep and effective root in the 

 minds of such infant governments, was hardly to 

 be looked for ; and, accordingly, we invariably 

 found the same erroneous but seductive idea pre- 

 vailing, more or less, that gold and silver were in 

 themselves national wealth, and that they ought 

 not, therefore, to be allowed to leave the country. 

 These notions obtained universally amongst the 

 lower orders, and generally amongst the upper 

 classes, excepting the principal merchants, whose 

 habits of business led them directly to the truth. 



As the greater part of the treasure was exported 

 in British men-of-war, the jealousy with which we 

 were often regarded by the people was increased ; 

 and it was no easy task to show that, for every 

 dollar carried out of the country, an equivalent 

 value in goods must necessarily come into it — of 

 goods which they stood in need of, in exchange 

 for metals of which they had infinitely more than 

 they wanted. It would be unreasonable, however, 

 to reproach these people with inaccurate views on 

 this subject, simple as it may seem ; since, till 

 very recently, opinions equally false and mischie- 

 vous to society prevailed almost universally in 

 countries where political economy was much better 

 understood than it is likely to be for some time to 

 come in Mexico. 



But if we lament the folly of thus throwing 

 obstacles in the way of turning the most valuable 

 produce of the country to the best account, we 

 feel deeper regret, and more lively indignation, 

 when we see the waste of mental treasure which 

 the same unwise policy, and contracted views, 

 have occasioned in those countries. 



These remarks refer more particularly to the 

 female part of society ; and I find it difficult to 

 use language which shall describe the state of the 

 case, without, at the same time, implying reproach 

 or censure upon them, a thing altogether foreign 

 to my meaning. The fault, in fact, does not lie 

 with the individuals ; so far from it, that when, in 

 any instance, the opposing causes happened to be 

 removed and opportunities were presented for 

 improving their minds, the effect was so remark- 

 able, that it was impossible not to hail with satis- 

 faction the prospect now opening, by which the 

 means of improvement, heretofore rare and acci- 

 dental, may become general, and within the reach 

 of the whole society. 



It was really painful to see so many young 

 ladies, of excellent abilities, anxious to learn, but 

 without any means of improvement, receiving 

 little or no encouragement from their seniors, 

 and the very reverse of encouragement from the 

 priests. 



With respect to the men, it may be remarked, 

 that they, probably unconsciously, have contributed 

 by their behaviour to the women to aggravate the 

 effect of the other causes which have been adverted 

 to as degrading their country. They had no share 

 whatever in the government, or in the commerce 

 of the country ; and were thus left almost without 

 motive to any kind of exertion. They, therefore, 

 naturally betook themselves to ignoble pursuits, 

 and being indifferent to public opinion, thought of 

 nothing less than of studying to elevate and sus- 

 tain the moral excellence of the other sex. The 



