SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 283 



must not be compared with those of the 

 capital of New Spain, but its shops and 

 streets exhibit more opulence. The ladies, 

 elegantly dressed, are constantly seen at the 

 windows on the ground floor, and in the 

 evenings many hundreds of excellent one- 

 horse carriages, like our covered gigs, driven 

 by negroes in handsome liveries, are sported 

 in the public rides and on the roads in the 

 vicinity, filled with fashionably dressed per- 

 sons of both sexes. The Botanic Garden near 

 the city is a new establishment, finely laid 

 out ; and, although not yet finished, contains 

 many curious plants and trees. On passing 

 some low bushes, in a wet situation, my at- 

 tention was attracted by the singular carved 

 or embossed appearance of the leaves ; but 

 on endeavouring to reach one, to examine it, 

 I was greatly surprised at the whole disap- 

 pearing in an instant, and discovering that 

 the raised ornament was occasioned by a nu- 



