69 
The consumption of the whole district of Tehuantepec, may 
at present be considered to amount to about 250,000 lbs. 
The Indians of Guichicovi especially, manufacture an im¬ 
pure sugar, used for the confection of brandy. This spirit is 
chiefly distilled at Tehuantepec, Juchitan, and Itztaltepec. 
The total value of the brandy consumed in the southern part 
of the Isthmus is estimated at £1600 to which ought to be 
added £1200 more for the mescal , a kind of brandy extracted 
in those places from the leaves of the American agave. 
The most important agricultural produce in this part of the 
country is that resulting from the cultivation of indigo. 
It is of such excellent quality as to be in request in all 
parts of the Republic, and it is also exported abroad. An 
average crop will produce about 120,000 lbs. representing a 
value of £24,000. Its cultivation demands scarcely any at¬ 
tention, as the plant continues to be productive for the long 
period of three years. It has been often calculated that the 
expense of the producing of indigo in fruitful years, does not 
exceed Is. 6d. per lb. whilst its value is never less than 4s. 
per lb. 
The settlements where this important cultivation is most 
flourishing are Juchitan, Itztaltepec, San Geronimo, Chihuitan, 
and generally throughout the whole districts of Tehuantepec. 
After the indigo, the iztle and pita are among the most 
considerable productions, but we are without sufficient accurate 
information to venture an assertion respecting their true value, 
which is also the case respecting tobacco, annotto, wax, honey, 
and wild silk. 
It is ascertained that the cochineal insect of these parts is 
the best in quality of any known, but its cultivation is almost 
entirely abandoned. Gum is so abundant, that according to 
the assertion of Don Pedro de Garay the neighbourhood of 
Juchitan alone will furnish 600,000 lbs. valued at about 
£3200. 
CATTLE. 
Formerly numerous herds of cattle grazed in the southern 
division of the Isthmus. Don Tadeo de Ortiz says that in the 
Frailescas estates alone there were more than 30,000 head of 
