SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



47 



airy and pleasant, on the ground floor, 

 looking into the square court stocked with 

 blooming flowers and roses as fine as those of 

 Europe, the latter being the only plant with 

 which we were acquainted. 



Xalapa or Jalapa, from which the well- 

 known drug takes its name, was till within 

 the last century the great mart of New Spain 

 for European goods. All merchandise ar- 

 riving at Vera Cruz (the unhealthiness of 

 which prevented merchants from stopping 

 there) was brought on mules to the great 

 annual fair held in this city, and attended by 

 all the mercantile interests of this part of the 

 world. The opening of the grand mart took 

 place amid much form and religious ceremony ; 

 prayers and processions were made by the 

 clergy for the success of trade, but they ex- 

 pected some remuneration for this service — 

 and the numerous churches and rich religious 

 establishments amply attest the liberality of 



