COLONIAL COMMODITIES. 



337 



iards from the Canary Islands into St. Domingo, from 

 whence it was subsequently carried into Cuba and 

 the province just named. Although the mean tem- 

 perature best suited to it is 75° or 77°, it may yet be 

 successfully reared in places of which the annual 

 warmth does not exceed 66° or 68° ; and as on great 

 table-lands the heat is increased by the reverbera- 

 tion of the earth, it is cultivated in Mexico to the 

 height of 4921 feet, and in favourable exposures 

 thrives even at an elevation of 6562. The greatest 

 part of the sugar produced in New- Spain is con- 

 sumed in the country, and the exportation is very 

 insignificant compared with that of Cuba, Jamaica, 

 or St. Domingo. 



Cotton, flax, and hemp are not extensively raised, 

 and very little coffee is used in the country. Cocoa, 

 vanilla, jalap, and tobacco are cultivated ; but of the 

 latter there is a considerable importation from Ha- 

 vana. Indigo is not produced in sufficient quantity 

 for home consumption. 



Since the middle of the sixteenth century, oxen, 

 horses, sheep, and hogs, introduced by the con- 

 querors, have multiplied surprisingly in all parts of 

 New-Spain, and more especially in the vast savannas 

 of the provincias internas. The exportation of hides 

 is considerable, as is that of horses and mules. 



Our common poultry have only of late years begun 

 to thrive in Mexico ; but there is a great variety of 

 native gallinaceous birds in that country, such as the 

 turkey, the hocco or curassow (Crax nigra, C.gloMce- 

 ra, C. pauoci), penelopes, and pheasants. The Guinea- 

 fowl and common duck are also reared ; but the 

 goose is nowhere to be seen in the Spanish colonies. 



The cultivation of the silkworm has never been 

 extensively tried, although many parts of that con- 

 tinent seem favourable to it. An enormous quantity 

 of wax is consumed in the festivals of the church ; 

 and notwithstanding that a large proportion is col- 

 lected in the country, much is imported from Ha- 



