MEXICO. 



409 



JSTorte^ or North River, the largest river in the country, rises in the northern part of New Mexi- 

 co, and traversing that Territory, and the States of Cohahuila and Tamaulipas, flows into the 

 Gulf of Mexico. It is about 2,000 miles in length, but receives few tributaries, and its navi- 

 gation is impeded by sand-bars and falls. The Colorado of the East rises in the mountains of 

 New Mexico, and traversing the State of Cohahuila, flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The 

 principal rivers of the west are the Francisco, Western Colorado, and Gila, flowing through 

 regions imperfectly known. The Tampico on the eastern, and the Grande on the western 

 declivity of the central table-land, are the principal streams in the south. The southern and 

 most populous part of the country suffers from want of water. 



4. Lakes. There is a number of lakes of no great extent in the valley of Mexico, near the 

 city of that name, the waters of which are diminishing. Tezcuco,* the principal, formerly re- 

 ceived the waters of San Christoval, Zumpango, Chalco, and Xochimilco, and was subject to 

 inundations. To prevent this disaster, its waters have been made to discharge themselves into 

 the river Tampico. The celebrated floating gardens or chinampas, formed by covering a sort 

 of raft, composed of rushes and shrubs, with a layer of rich earth, were formerly numerous on 

 these lakes ; but most of those now called by that name are fixed, though some move from 

 place to place. Lake Chapala, in the State of Xalisco, is distinguished for the beauty of its 

 scenery. In the north, are lakes Timpanogos and Buenaventura or Salt Lake, large sheets 

 of water, of which little is known. 



5. Bays and Harbors. Although this country has a very great extent of sea^ioast, it pre- 

 sents few good harbors ; but there are some on the western shores. Most of the rivers are 

 obstructed by sand-bars, and both coasts are rendered inaccessible for several months by violent 

 tempests. The Gulf of California is 800 miles in length by 80 or 100 in breadth, but its 

 navigation is rendered difficult by numerous shoals. The Gulf of Tehuantepec, in the State 

 of Oaxaca, and the Bay of Campeachy, between Yucatan and Tobasco, are the other chief 

 bays. 



6. Climate. About one third of the country lies within the torrid zone, but the remarka- 

 ble elevation of its surface modifies its climate in a striking manner. The low country along 

 the coasts has a tropical climate, and produces sugar, indigo, &c., while the region which occu- 

 pies the central table-land from 6,000 to 9,500 feet in height, is mild and temperate, and 

 yields the cereal grains of the temperate zone. The intervening space, from 3,000 to 5,000 

 feet in height, exhibits an intermediate climate. Thus in ascending the successive terraces, 

 which rise from the sea to the surface of the table-land, the climates succeed each other, as it 

 were, in layers, and in 2 days the whole scale of vegetation is presented to view. Some of 

 the farms or haciendas are at an elevation of 10,000 feet. Above this table-land, single pro- 

 minences rise into colder regions, and terminate in that of perpetual ice and snow. The year 

 is divided into 2 seasons ; the rainy, lasting about 4 months from the end of May, and the 

 dry season, comprising the rest of the year. The northern part has a climate resembling that 

 of the Mississippi valley in corresponding latitudes, but to the west of the mountains the cold 

 is less severe. 



7. Soil. The low plains on the coast are fertile, and have a luxuriant vegetation. Much 

 of the central table-land is dry and sterile, but in those parts which are well watered the vege- 

 tation is remarkably vigorous. In the northwest and northeast are extensive tracts of rich soil. 



8. Vegetables. The variety of the indigenous vegetation is immense, owing to the great 

 diversity of soil and climate. The banana grows in the warm and humid valleys, and its 

 fruit, which is 10 or II inches in circumference, and 7 or 8 in length, is an important arti- 

 cle of food. Various preparations are made from it, both in its ripe and immature state. 

 When ripe it is dried, cut into slices, and converted into meal by pounding. Manioc, the 

 root of which also furnishes a nutritive flour called cassava, likewise grows in the hot regions. 

 The juice is an active poison, which is expressed after the root is ground ; the remainder or 

 cassava is made into bread. Tapioca, the purest and most wholesome part of the manioc, is 



" The beri of the central or low lake of Tezcuco, is pro- 

 jrressively rising, in consequence of the loose earth carried 

 down by the torrents and deposited in it. If the report of 

 a survey made in the 16th century (says Humboldt) be 

 true, the great square of Mexico was elevated 43 feet above 

 the level of this lake ; which latter is now only 47 inches 

 lower than the former. On the other hand, the cutting 

 down of the ancient foreet.-, and tliorehy exposintr the na- 



52 



ked plain to the direct influence of a tropical sun, has di- 

 minished the humidity of the atmosphere, and has au'o 

 increased the evaporation both in degree and rapidity 

 The lake has, therefore, decreased both in extent and 

 depth; and the city of Mexico, which in the days of Cor- 

 tez stood environed by water, is now almost three miles 

 from the lake of Tezcuco, which receives much less water 

 by infiltration than in the 16th century. 



