MEXICO;

AZTEC, SPANISH AND REPUBLICAN:

A HISTORICAL, GEOGRAPHICAL, POLITICAL, STATISTICAL AND SOCIAL ACCOUNT OF THAT COUNTRY FROM THE PERIOD OF THE INVASION

BY THE SPANIARDS TO THE PRESENT TIME;

WITH A VIEW OF THE

ANCIENT AZTEC EMPIRE AND CIVILIZATION;

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE WAR;

AND NOTICES OF

NEW MEXICO AND CALIFORNIA.

BY

BRANTZ MAYER,

FORMERLY SECRETARY OF LEGATION TO MEXICO.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOLUME II.

ne

HARTFORD:

S. DRAKE AND COMPANY.

MDCCCLII.

ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by

SIDNEY DRAKE,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut.

C. A. ALVORD, PRINTER,

29 Gold-st., N. Y.

CONTENTS.

BOOK IV.

Page 9

CHAPTER I.-Absence of accuracy-Humboldt-Superficial extent of Mexican

Territory-Physical structure of Mexico-Volcanic mountains-Climates-Tierras

Templadas, Calientes, Frias-Political divisions and boundaries of Mexico-Old

Spanish divisions-Provinces-Intendencies-States-Departments-North boun-

dary-Present States and Territories-Rivers of Mexico-Rivers and Lakes of

Mexico, .

CHAPTER II.-Division of population-Whites-Indians-Africans-Leperos-

Rancheros-Characteristics, Indifference, Procrastination-Females--Better Classes

Their social habits-Entertainments-Leperos-Their habits-Evangelistas-

Thieving The Ranchero-His character and habits-The Indian race-Agricul-

turists-Traditionary habits adhered to-Improvidence-Superstition-Drunken-

ness-Indian women-Servile condition-Local adhesiveness-Peonage-Whip-

ping-Planter-life-Its solitude and results-Mülenpfordt's character of the In-

dians-Indian tribes and races in Mexico-Table of castes in Mexico,
22

CHAPTER III.-Population-Census--Tables of population-Relative division of

races-Relative intellectual cultivation-Relative population in hot and cold

districts,

. 41

CHAPTER IV.-Agriculture-Dry and rainy seasons-Irrigation-Yield of corn

lands-Colonial restrictions-Colonial dependence-Bad intercommunication-Ar-

rieros-Corn lands-Different kinds of corn in Mexico-Mode of cultivation-

Production-various uses of corn-Banana-Mainoc-Rice-The olive-Vine-

Chile pepper-tomato-Frijol-Maguey-Maguey estates-Making Pulque-

Aloes-Cacti,
48

CHAPTER V.-Estates in the valleys of Cuernavaca and Cuautla—Mexican haci-

endas Sugar regions-Coffee-Its yield-Tobacco-Orizaba-Chiapas, etc.-In-

digo-Cotton-Manufactures encouraged in Mexico-No new agricultural popula-

tion-New manufacturing population-Production of cotton-Vainilla—Jalap—

Cacao-Cochineal-Its production and quantity-Silk-Fruits-Agricultural pros-

pects-Grazing, and not an agricultural country,

. 62

CHAPTER VI.-Reflections on emigration-Advantages of America-Land and

labor-Mines wrought by Aztecs-Mining districts and extent in Mexico-Errors

as to early supply of metals from America-True period of abundance-Mines

not exhausted-Condition-Families enriched-Effect of mining on Agriculture-

Relative product of silver for ten years-Table of product-Yield of the mines

since the Conquest-Coinage in 1844-Total coinage 1535 to 1850,

76

CHAPTER VII.-Income of New Spain 1809-Expenses of New Spain 1809-

Mineral productions-Military force-Agriculture-Manufactures-Commerce-

Exports-Imports-Present commerce-Imports-Exports-Nineteen years trade

between the United States and Mexico-Character of imports-Character of ex-

ports-Silver exported-Fairs in Mexico-The future prospects and position of

Mexico-Not a commercial country-Railway from Vera Cruz to the city of

Mexico,

93

. 107

112

CHAPTER VIII.-Disorder of Mexican finances-Enormous usury-Character of

financial operations-Expenses of administrations-Analysis of Mexican debt-

Comparison of income and outlay-Deficit, .

CHAPTER IX.-Table of cotton factories in Mexico-Consumption—Produc-

tion-Increase of factories-Day and night work-Deficit of material-Water and

steam power-Mexican manufactures generally,

CHAPTER X.-The military in Mexico before and after the revolution-Confirma-

tion of army-Its political use-Character of Mexican soldiers-Recruiting-

Tactics-Officers-Dramatic character of army-Recriminations-Condition of the

army at the peace-Army on the northern frontier-Military colonies-Character

of the tribes-Fortresses-Perote-Acapulco-San Juan de Ulua-Reorganization

of the army-Tabular view of men and Materiel-Navy-Extent of coast on both

seas-Naval establishment-Vessels and officers-Expenses of war and navy, 116

CHAPTER XI.-Relations between the Mexican church and the Pope-Clergy-

Monks-Nuns-Monasteries-Convents-Wealth of the church-Ratio of clergy

and people-High and low clergy—their history—vices--Monks-Rural clergy—

Their character-Conduct of clergy, public and private-Missions in California-

Mode of conversion-Monks in Mexico-Zavala's strictures-Pazo's strictures on

South American clergy-Church in the United States and in Mexico-Constitu-

tional protection of Catholicism-Duty of the church-Bulls-Paper money, 130

CHAPTER XII.-Various changes of the Mexican constitution-Present organiza-

tion of the national and state governments-Constitution of 1847-Legislative and

judiciary National and state-Judiciary—Administration of justice-Civil and

criminal process-Mal-administration of justice-Prisons-Crime-Accordada—

Condition of prisons-Statistics of crime in the capital-Garrotte-Mexican

opinions,

. 144

CHAPTER XIII.-What Mexico has done-Review of her conduct and character

-Mexican opinions Classes-Indians-Mestizos-Whites-Army-Church-

Divisions of whites-want of Homogeneousness-Want of nationality and of a

people-Remedies-Emigration-Religious liberty-political order-Labor,

BOOK V.

155

CHAPTER I.-Division of Mexico into States-Eastern, western, interior-Yuca-

tan-Boundaries, departments, population, districts, towns, parishes, productions,

principal towns, islands, harbors-Chiapas-Boundaries, products, departments,

towns, rivers, population-Remains in Yucatan and Chiapas-Discoveries of Ste-

phens, Catherwood, Norman, etc.-Palenque-Uxmal-Yucatan calendar-Yuca-

tan, Chiapan, Mechoacan, Nicaragua and Mexican months-Yucatese and Chia-

pan cycle-Yucatese and Mexican solar year--Differences-Yucatese months-

Tabasco-Boundaries, rivers, lagune, inhabitants, productions, towns and villages,

Page 165

CHAPTER II.-Boundaries of Vera Cruz-Rivers, lagunes, mineral springs, pop-

ulation, political divisions, productions, cattle, cities, towns-Vera Cruz-Its dis-

eases-Meteorological observations at--Water fallen at Vera Cruz-Orizaba—As-

cent of the mountain-Magnificent views-Difficulties-The crater extinct-

Elevation of the mountain-Descent-Antiquities in the state of Vera Cruz-

Ruins at Panuco, Chacuaco, San Nicolas, La Trinidad-Small figures—Papantla

-Description of the pyramid-Ruins at Mapilca-Pyramid and temple at Tusa-

pan-Isle of Sacrificios-Misantla-Remains near Puente Nacional-Tamaulipas-

Boundaries, rivers, lagunes, climate, population, productions, towns-Antiquities

of Tamaulipas-Topila-Rancho de las piedras-Sculpture-Remains, etc., etc.

Page 183