304 



VOLCANOES — COASTS. 



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 ele- 

 vated plains ; and the declivities of the cordillera 

 being exposed to humid winds and fogs, their vege- 

 tation 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 

 capital, 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- 

 catepetl, Tustla, Jorullo, and Colima. 



The physical situation of that kingdom confers 

 inestimably advantages upon it in a commercial 

 point of view. Under careful cultivation it is capa- 

 ble 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 excepting mer- 

 cury, and is supplied with the finest timber ; 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 con- 

 stantly adding to the land. Vera Cruz, the principal 

 port on this side, is merely an open road. Both 

 coasts, too, are rendered inaccessible for several 

 months by severe tempests, which prevent all navi- 

 gation. The north winds, los nortes, prevail in the 

 Mexican Gulf from the autumnal to the vernal equi- 

 nox. They are very violent in March, though usually 



