Mexico. 



MEXICO, OR NEW SPAIN. 



59 



revenue, and Tome rich families, defcended from the old Spanifh conquerors, 

 have their habitation there. 



It is alTerted by fome, that becaufe the river is not fortified, this place might 

 be very eafily fubdued, and great contributions levied, as there are in the neigli- 

 bourhood many rich tov/ns, churches and cloifters the nuns in which are 

 famous for making the befl: chocolate that is exported to Spain. 



tlascala. 



THIS province has the happinefs of lying both on the North and South- 

 Seas. With regard to the climate and foil of this province, they are much 

 the fame with thofe of Mexico, only fome think the former lefs variable, and 

 the latter more fruitful. As it is perhaps the beft feated,fo it is beyond queflion, 

 the moft populous country in all America, which is owing to many caufes ; 

 fome of which it may not be improper to mention. In the lirft place we muft 

 obferve that the Tlafcalans were never conquered; but as they were originally 

 the allies of Cortez, fo by his recommendation, they have ever fince been 

 confidered in that light by the Spanijh government; which is perhaps the only 

 true point of policy they purfue. By this means the villages and towns 

 fwarm with Indians, who are a quite different people from their neighbours : 

 for, whereas the latter are grown fenfelefs and ftupid, through the long 

 continuance of llavery and oppreffion, thefe have all the fire and fpirit that 

 is natural to a free people. They fpeak the Spanijh tongue, and fcarce any 

 other : they are perfeftly reconciled to the SpaniJIo cufloms, and are fo grate- 

 ful for the countenance and refpeft fhewed them, that it is conceived the 

 government may more fafely depend upon them than the Mejiizes, though 

 the latter are adiually defcended from Spaniards. One may very well wonder, 

 that having fuch an inflance before their eyes, the viceroy and his council do 

 not treat the Indians in general better ; perhaps they may have their reafons 

 to the contrary, though to us they feem pafl finding out. 



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