SIX MONTHS JN MEXICO. 



123 



colour, is sold by the Indians ; it is abundant 

 at Themascaltepec, and is, I believe, the same 

 as that of which the East India nankeen is 

 made. The machine for extracting the seed 

 is not known, and this troublesome process is 

 here performed by hand. The Indians also 

 expose for sale great quantities of coarse calico 

 of their own manufacture. 



Flax or hemp I did not see : the growth 

 was discouraged by the Spaniards, though the 

 temperate region is well adapted to their pro- 

 duction. The same discouragement existed 

 as to the manufacture of silk. 



Chocolate, made from the cocoa, was in 

 general use in America before the first arrival 

 of Europeans, and is still held in high estima- 

 tion. In Mexico the consumption of it is very 

 great. It is manufactured in a simple manner, 

 and is excellent, The cocoa is not, however, 

 the growth of the country, but is imported 

 from Guatemala and South America, It is 



