172 ALAMEDA INDIANS TAXED FOR EUROPEAN WARS. 



humane efforts for civilization, preferring the vagabond life they 

 had so long led and which had now become necessary and natural. 

 Nevertheless he thought it his duty to try the experiment. But 

 the first Otomi who was reduced to the necessity of abandoning 

 his nomadic habits and building for himself a regular habitation, 

 not only destroyed his wife and children, but terminated his own 

 existence by hanging. The viceroy then suspended his operations 

 and reported the untoward result, together with the opinion of his 

 advisers, to the court of Spain. 



Velasco, ever anxious not only for the amelioration of the con- 

 dition of the Indians, but for the embellishment of the capital 

 which was now growing into considerable importance, caused the 

 Alameda of Mexico to be laid out and planted in 1593, for the 

 recreation of the citizens. This magnificent grove, with its beauti- 

 fully shaded avenues and walks, — embellished by fountains and 

 filled with every thing that can give repose or comfort to the fa- 

 tigued people who are anxious to steal off awhile from the toil and 

 bustle of a large city, — still exists in Mexico as an evidence of 

 the taste and liberality of the viceroy, and will be more particu- 

 larly described, hereafter, in that portion of this work which treats 

 of the city of Mexico, and of the manners and customs of its 

 inhabitants. 



In 1594, Philip the Second finding himself straitened for means 

 to carry on the European wars in which he was engaged, recurred 

 to the unfortunate and unjust system of forced loans to increase his 

 revenue. He did not confine himself in this odious compulsory 

 tax to the old world which was most concerned in the result of his 

 wars, but instructed Velasco to impose a tribute of four reales or 

 fifty cents upon Indians, in addition to the sum they already paid 

 his majesty. Velasco reluctantly undertook the unwelcome task; 

 but anxious to lighten the burden upon the natives as much as 

 possible, and, at the same time, to foster the raising of poultry and 

 cattle among these people, he compounded the whole tax of a 

 dollar which they were obliged to pay, for seven reales, or eighty- 

 seven and a half cents and one fowl, which, at that time, was 

 valued at a single real, or twelve and a half cents. This, it will be 

 perceived, was amiably designed by the viceroy, but became imme- 

 diately the subject of gross abuse. The Indians are slowly moved 

 either to new modes of cultivation or to new objects of care, even 

 of the most domestic and useful character. Instead of devoting 

 themselves to the raising of poultry with the industrious thrift that 



