308 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FORESTS, FACTORIES, CITIES. 



mingo de Soriano, San Antonio de Bernal, and the mining post of 

 Rio Blanco. 213 inhabitants to the square league. 



6th. The district of Jalpam, contains three partidos and in these 

 there are two sub-prefectures, which are Landa and Aguacatlan a 

 mining post ; besides these there are the villages of Conca, San- 

 cillo, Bucareli, Arroyoseco, Tancoyol and Xilapan ; the mining posts 

 of San Jose de los Amoles and San Pedro Escanela ; and the mis- 

 sions of Tilaco and Pacula. 64 inhabitants to the square league. 



The whole State is calculated to contain 124 haciendas or large 

 plantations, and 392 ranchos or farms, while nearly 30,000 of its 

 inhabitants are engaged in agricultural pursuits. 



The products of the soil are similar to those already described in 

 the other States on the central plateau. In the valleys some of the 

 tropical productions are found, but grain and cattle form the staples 

 of the farmer's care. Very thick forests are seldom found in any 

 part of the State, and many regions are almost entirely denuded. 

 It will be seen from our chapter upon the manufactures of Mexico, 

 that Queretaro is remarkable for the zeal and success with which it 

 has applied itself to this branch of industry. Most of the woollen 

 fabrics of this State are made of the Lana de Chinchorro which is 

 produced within its limits, and is commonly sold at $15 per 100 lbs. 

 Besides this there is a species of cotton, raised in some of the dis- 

 tricts, used in the manufacture of a favorite kind of mantas, shawls 

 and rebozos. The trade of the State is carried on chiefly with 

 Mexico, Vera Cruz and San Luis Potosi. 



The principal city is that of Queretaro, the capital and seat of 

 government, lying in 19° 58' 2" 15"' N. latitude, and 1° 5' W. longi- 

 tude from the meridian of Mexico, 6,365 feet above the sea. This 

 fine, picturesque and well built town, containing about 50,000 in- 

 habitants, is situated on the sides and summit of converging hills, 

 and is divided into several parishes, or curatos, some of which are 

 in the body of the city and others in the suburbs, being separated 

 from the rest by a scant stream which has been dignified with the 

 title of El Rio — the river. Queretaro stands nearly 7,000 feet 

 above the level of the sea, and enjoys a delightful temperature. A 

 noble aqueduct, two miles in length, with arches ninety feet high, 

 spanning a plain of meadow land — joins a tunnel from the opposite 

 hills, and supplies the city with an abundance of excellent water from 

 a distance of two leagues. It is a magnificent and enduring struc- 

 ture, and the honor of its erection is due to the taste and judgment 

 of the Marquis de Valero del Aguila, who caused it to be built at 

 his own cost during his viceroyal government of Mexico. Quere- 



