362 CONSUMPTION OF MEXICO. 
celibacy of the numerous clergy, the progress of 
luxury, and other causes, induce this disproportion. 
According to researches made by the Count de 
Revillagigedo, the consumption of Mexico in 1791 
was as follows :— 
I. ANIMAL FCOD. 
ERE ee a Mat Mat 16,5007 Powis. cee ee 1,255,340 
Walyess 800i ee. 450 | Duacks;.2.. eae. 125,000 
SCE Pisene,, 55 ee Le ec 278,923 | TurkeySyere......0-cec0e--0ee 205,000 
15 LEE RN Ba tec Shien 50,676 | Pireons,: oes, -th a: 65,300 
Kids and Rabbits,......... 24,000 | Partridges,.................. 140,000 
II. GRAIN. 
gia or Indian corn—cargas of 3 fanegas, 117,224—543,219 I. S. 
ushels. 
Barley—cargas, 40,219 —187,062 I. S. bushels. 
Wheat flour, cargas of 12 arrobas, 130,000—353,229 ewt. 
III. LIQUIDS. 
Pulque, the fermented juice of agave—cargas, 294,790—800,987 
cwts. 
Wine and vinegar barrels of 4} arrobas, 4,507 —71,746 I. S. galls. 
Brandy—barrels, 12,000—191,052 I. S. galls. 
Spanish oil—arrobas of 25 pounds, 5,585—15,530 I. S. galls. 
The market is abundantly supplied with vege- 
tables of numerous kinds, which are brought in 
every morning by the Indians in boats. Most of 
these are cultivated on the chinampas or gardens, 
some of which float upon the neighbouring sheet of 
water, while others are fixed in the marshy grounds.* 
The surface of the four principal lakes in the val- 
ley of Mexico occupies nearly a tenth of its extent, 
* « These are long narrow stripes of ground redeemed from the 
surrounding swamp, and intersected by small canals. They all ap- 
peared to abound in very fine vegetables, and lively-foliaged pop- 
lars generally shadowed their extremities. The little gardens con- 
structed on bushes or wooden rafts no longer exist in the immediate 
vicinity of Mexico; but I learnt that some may yet be seen at 
Inchimilco, a place near San Augustin de las Cuevas.” Captain 
Lyons Journal of a Residence and Tour in the Republic of 
Mexico, vol. ii. p. 110. 
