182 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



formerly mentioned the woods of king Montezuma, and 

 the laws of king Nezahualcojotl concerning the cutting 

 of them. It would be of advantage to that kingdom, 

 that thofe laws were ftill in force, or at leaft that there 

 was not fo much liberty granted in cutting without an 

 obligation to plant a certain number of trees ; as many 

 people preferring their private intereft and convenience 

 to the public welfare, deftroy the wood in order to en- 

 large their poffefiions (q). 



Among the plants mod cultivated by the Mexicans 

 next to maize, the principal were thofe of cotton, the 

 cacao, the metl^ or aloe, the chia, and great pepper, on 

 account of the various ufes which they made of them. 

 The aloe, or maguei alone, yielded almofl every thing 

 neceflary to the life of the poor. Befides making ex- 

 cellent hedges for their fields, its trunk ferved in place 

 of beams for the roofs of their houfes, and its leaves 

 inllead of tiles. From thofe leaves they obtained pa* 

 per, thread, needles, clothing, fhoes, and (lockings, and 

 cordage ; and from its copious juice they made wine, 

 honey, fugar, and vinegar. Of the trunk, and thicker! 

 part of the leaves, when well baked, they made a very 

 tolerable difh. of food. Laftly, it was a powerful medi* 

 cine in feveral diforders, and particularly in thofe of 

 the urine. It is alfo at prefent one of the plants the 

 mod valued and moft profitable to the Spaniards, as we 

 fhall fee hereafter. 



With refpecl to the breeding of animals, which is an 

 employment affociated with agriculture, although among 

 the Mexicans there were no fhepherds, they having been 



entirely 



(q) Many places ftill feel the pernicious effects of the liberty to cut the 

 woods. The city Queretaro was formerly provided with timber for building 

 from the wood which was upon the neighbouring mountain Cimatario. At 

 prefent it is obliged to be brought from a great diftance, as the mountain is 

 entirely ftripped of its wood. 



