290 CLIMATE INDIANS DEPARTMENTS AGRICULTURE. 



supplies to numerous neighborhoods. The climate of Mechoacan is 

 regular, not liable to extraordinary or sudden changes, and remark- 

 ably genial. On the Pacific coast and in its vicinity, as in the 

 other middle and southern States of the Confederacy, agues and 

 intermittent fevers prevail ; but the population seems to have in- 

 creased considerably since the beginning of this century, and even 

 in a larger proportion than in some other parts of Mexico. In 1849, 

 the number of inhabitants was estimated to be not less than 590,000. 

 Three Indian tribes still dwell within its borders : 1st, the Taras- 

 cos ; 2d, the Otomies ; 3d, the Chichimecas. The whole southern 

 half of the State is peopled with Indians. 



Mechoacan is divided into 4 departments and 62 municipalities, 



1. Department del Norte, with 14 municipalities. 



2. " del Oriente, with 15 municipalities. 



3. " del Sur, with 11 municipalities. 



4. " del Poniente, with 22 municipalities. 



These 4 departments contain the three cities of Morelia, Patz- 

 cuaro, and Tzintzoutzan ; — the three towns of Zitacuaro, Za- 

 mora, and Charo ; — 256 villages, 333 haciendas , and 1,356 ranchos, 

 which are divided among 83 parishes. 



The agricultural productions of Mechoacan are similar in charac- 

 ter to those of the other Western States of Mexico lying within 

 the same longitude. The best sugar plantations are about 12 

 leagues from Patzcuaro. At the foot of Jorullo, cotton, indigo, 

 cacao and sugar are planted ; and mainoc or cassava, potatoes and 

 yams are sown in genial spots, whilst maiz, wheat, barley and ma- 

 guey s are cultivated in the higher and cooler regions. The finest 

 tropical fruits are raised in the warm portions of the State. 



The capital of Mechoacan is Morelia, sometimes called Vallado- 

 lid, or Valladolid de Mechoacan. Its modern title is derived from 

 the name of the insurgent leader Morelos. 



Morelia lies 6,398 feet above the level of the sea, in latitude 

 19° 42' North, 103° 12' 15" W. long, from Paris,— between the 

 two streams which water the Valley of Olid. It is a small, but 

 handsome town, possessing some fine churches, and a charming 

 passeo and alameda. The climate is mild and wholesome, but snow 

 falls occasionally during the winter. 



Patzcuaro lies on the south-eastern bank of the lake of that name. 



Tzintzoutzan is about 4 leagues from Patzcuaro, in a northerly 

 direction, upon the banks of the same lake. It was once the capi- 

 tal of the ancient Indian Kingdom of Mechoacan, but is now only a 



