102 



MEXICO. 



clumsy imposture to which she owes her elevation to this 

 dignity is not worth recounting. There is only one rival 

 to her dominion in the affections of the common people 

 in the valley of Mexico, and that is Nuestra Senora de 

 los Remedios, whose shrine is to be seen in a village 

 near the base of the mountains to the west of the city. 

 The leperos and poblanitas of the city pin their faith, in 

 case of any impending danger, upon her wonder-work- 

 ing image ; and in cases of great emergency — as during 

 the prevalence of the cholera, last year — she is brought 

 with great pomp into the metropolis. On one occasion 

 it was settled that she should pass the night in town, as 

 the weather was unfriendly, and a suitable lodging was 

 provided : but when morning dawned she had vanished. 

 The fact was, that nothing could keep her away from 

 her own flock at los Remedios, where accordingly she 

 was found at dawn in her usual place ; covered with 

 mud, however, with having walked a number of leagues 

 in a dark and rainy night. And this miracle is believed ! 

 Alas ! poor human nature ! 



Wherever I go, I carry about with me an English- 

 man's weakness, and am particularly observant of climate 

 and weather. This may be pardonable in a locality so 

 peculiar as that of Mexico, where you are raised far above 

 the ordinary region of mists and vapours, into that of frost 

 and snow, and yet, from local and extraordinary causes, 

 enjoy a climate of peculiar beauty and salubrity.* 



The thermometer in the city of Mexico very seldom 

 falls to the freezing point, and as rarely rises to a degree 

 of oppressive heat ; the usual range throughout the year 

 being from 50 to 80° of Fahrenheit. 



* The city of Mexico was nevertheless visited hy the cholera in the 

 course of the preceding year 1833. Out of a population of 160,000, 

 15,000 are stated to have fallen victims to its virulence. At the height, 

 as many as 1400 deaths occurred in the course of twenty-four hours. 

 Very few cases were spasmodic. Laudanum was found to be the most 

 effectual remedy. Of the English residents all escaped with one single 

 exception, while a considerable number of the French were carried off. 



