224 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



or three in the country. The floors of the 

 fine apartments in which the Congress hold 

 their meetings were covered with several of 

 different patterns; and a few private houses 

 of the nobility display small ones, or pieces of 

 them. But hearth-rugs (though fire-places 

 are unknown) are in more general request, 

 being used as saddle-cloths ; whilst the huge 

 lackered curtain-pins manufactured in Bir- 

 mingham are seen decorating the high fronts 

 of the saddles. 



There are no optical instruments made in 

 Mexico, nor is there an artist who can repair 

 even a common barometer ; upon the slightest 

 accident it must, therefore, be sent all the way 

 to Europe to be mended ! 



Cast iron, so generally useful and necessary 

 to us, is almost unknown in New Spain; its 

 use for culinary purposes being supplied by 

 the excellence of their common earthenware. 

 * Of the powers of iron, when connected with 



