VOLCANOES—COASTS. 351 
is a great deficiency of wood, is prejudicial to the 
working of the mines; and this natural evil has 
been augmented since the arrival of Europeans, who 
have not only destroyed the trees without planting 
others, but have drained a large extent of ground, _ 
and thus increased the saline efflorescences which 
cover the surface and are hostile to cultivation. This 
dryness, however, is confined to the more elevated 
plains; and the declivities of the cordillera be- 
ing exposed to humid winds and fogs, their vegeta- 
tion is uncommonly vigorous. 
Mexico is less disturbed by earthquakes than 
Quito, Guatimala, and Cumana, although these de- 
structive commotions are by no means rare on the 
western coasts, and in the neighbourhood of the ca- 
pital, where, however, they are never so violent as 
in other parts of America. There are only five 
active volcanoes in all New Spain: Orizaba, Popo- 
eatepetl, Tustla, Jorullo, and Colima. 
The physical situation of that kingdom confers in- 
estimable advantages upon it, in a commercial point 
of view. Under careful cultivation it is capable of 
producing all that commerce brings together from 
every part of the globe: sugar, cochineal, cacao, 
cotton, coffee, wheat, hemp, flax, silk, oil, and 
wine. It furnishes every metal, not even except- 
ing mercury, and is supplied with the finest tim- 
ber ; but the coasts oppose obstacles which it will 
be difficult to overcome. The western shores are 
indeed furnished with excellent harbours; but the 
eastern are almost entirely destitute of them, the 
mouths of the rivers there being choked up with 
sands, which are constantly adding to the land. 
Vera Cruz, the principal port on this side, is merely 
