GIANT CYPRESS AT TUEE, NEAR CITY OF OAXACA, MEXICO 



This great tree, 154 feet high and its trunk so large that 28 men with outstretched arms 

 can barely encircle it, is one of the largest in the world. Humboldt inscribed his name upon 

 it, and, history says, Cortez rested his men under its branches while en route to Honduras. 



slavery has been sanctioned. Slaves were 

 not sold by their masters, unless when 

 these were driven to it by poverty. They 

 were often liberated by them at their 

 death, and sometimes, as there was no 

 natural repugnance founded on differ- 

 ence of blood and race, were married to 

 them. Yet a refractory or vicious slave 



might be led into the market, with a col- 

 lar round his neck, which intimated his 

 bad character, and there be publicly sold, 

 and, on a second sale, reserved for sacri- 

 fice. 



Communication was maintained with 

 the remotest parts of the country by 

 means of couriers. Post-houses were es- 



