228 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



sometimes four or five dollars the bottle, 

 The bottle itself is sold in Mexico at half 

 a dollar, and in the provinces at a whole one. 



Breweries were about to be established : — 

 barley, as fine as any in Europe, is produced 

 in most parts of the country ; and hops, till 

 they can be cultivated, may be imported from 

 England or the United States ; but I scarcely 

 think that, for a general beverage, beer will 

 ever supplant their favourite pulque. 



Spanish wine, not of the best quality, 

 though high in price, is sparingly used; 

 brandies of the mother-country, and that 

 made here from the sugar-cane, are in too 

 much request; the latter strongly resembles 

 Irish whiskey, and is considered a wholesome 

 spirit. 



The literary establishments at present in 

 Mexico are very few, and no libraries of any 

 extent are open to the public. The pro- 

 ductions of the press are not numerous, nor 



