HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



389 



Roman pounds ; in the year 1774, there were two mil- 

 lions, two hundred and fourteen thoufand two hundred 

 and ninety-four and an half arrobas entered, that is more 

 than feventy-three millions of Roman pounds ; but in 

 this computation we do not comprehend what is intro- 

 duced by fmuggling, nor that which the Indians who are 

 privileged, feiJ in the principal fquare of the city. This 

 amazing quantity of pulque is almoft folely confumed by 

 the Indians and Mulattoes, the number of which is fur- 

 paired by that of the Whites and Creoles, few of whom 

 make ufe of this beverage. The tax upon it amounts 

 annually, in the capital alone, to about two hundred and 

 eighty thoufand crowns fpefos fuertes). The daily con- 

 fumption of tobacco for fmoking, in that capital, is rec- 

 koned at one thoufand two hundred and fifty crowns, 

 or thereabouts ; which in one year makes the fum of 

 four hundred and fifty thoufand crowns and more. But 

 it is necefTary to be underftood, that among the Indians 

 very few ufe tobacco ; among the Europeans and Cre- 

 oles very many do not ufe it, and fome of the Mulattoes 

 do not. Who will put greater faith in the calculations 

 made by M. de Paw than in the regifters of the capital ? 

 or who will place more value on the judgment of a mo- 

 dern Pruffian, who is fo extravagant refpecling the anci- 

 ent populoufnefs of that city, than on that of fo many an- 

 cient writers who faw it ? 



With regard to the city and court of Tezcuco, we 

 know from the letters of Cortes to Charles V. that it 

 contained about thirty thoufand houfes ; but this ought 

 to be underftood folely of the court ; for including the 

 other three cities of Coatlichan, Huexotla, and Atenco, 

 which, as Cortes attefts, appeared to form a feparate po- 

 pulation, it was, by a great deal, larger than Mexico. 



Torquemada, 



