The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-25 00:00:00

DESCRIPTION 49F 11EXI(30.

We extract the following description of Mexico from
an American paper:—
" As this fortunately -located fertile but vain-glorious
country is now the theme of daily discussion, we have
thought that ~oine of its peculiar characteristics might
not be without interest .to our readers. On casually
turning to some of the standard authorities, which base
treated of it, we find that it lies between the 15th and
33d parallels of north latitude. Its greatest length from
northwest to southeast is 1,700 miles, greatest breath

about 600 miles—area estimated at 1,230,442 square
miles.

The most populous cities are Mex;co 150,000. Gua-
dalaxaret 60,000, S.tn Luis Potosi and La Puebla 55.000
each, Oxaca and Quretaro 40 000, Gutettaxuato 34 000,
and Merida 28,000. Of thts large tract of country,
which is about one third as large as Europe, that portion
comprising a large part of the long and narrow isthmus
that connects the American peninsulas, and separate s .13.•
Atlantic from the Pa.ific ocean, is by far the most ro-
pulous and rich in mineral' and vegetable productiot a
The regions north of the tropic become less populous as
ot.e proceeds northward, and many large districts
claimed by the republic,and divided into states and
territories, are almost unknown, being inhabited by
wild Indian tribes, b .ffling all the attempts of their
nominal masters to subdue them.

" The surface of the country is exceedingly irregular,
and its variety of climate most ri mark .ble. Its nu-
merous volcanoes have c•tten t e•en remarked upon, and
the geological tormation is mo.t favourable to mines of
various kinds. The great central plateau, of Anahua
between latitude 14 and 20 degrees, is a Mass of pophyry,
characterised by the presence of hornblende and the ab•
sence of quartz ; and in it are contained large and
valuable deposits of gold and silver. Humboldt says in
relation to these and other mines in Mexico, that there
were at the time of his visit, 3,000 mines of gold and sil-
ver in Mexico, but the ignorance and misrule which pre.
vail in that country have greatly diminished their im-
portance as a source of wealth.

nntlde,uuvpild
bcrries
A considerable portion of the land is table land, toll
the climate of this land is, on the whole, favourable to
human Ilk But though intermittent fevers be of rare
occurrence, the natives are occasionally visited by a
peculiar epidemic ; but it owes its origin more to the
people than to any other cause. Indeed famine, and its
attendant privations have thinned the population inure
than epidemic complaints, The indolence of the natives
prevents all exertions to raise more food thanoisnereeqvieir
site for the wants of a single season, and no
a stock
thinks when there is a surplus of lay g
against future contingencies, d to
and severe frosts come, they are compelled s :.I,rko tit ghlei ti
ts
multitudes aro often
subsistance in the forests,
constitute their sale did et
Unwholesome food.
carried off by hunger and
of the plants peculiar to the
" Mexico
thoseproduces most
belonging to the temperate
tropics as well as
meddle Europe. Humboldt
south and nv. - SS3's
regions of .
~f climate, there is scare ly a plant
,uch is the variety
worl•I which is nt . - ,i, „ , 1
,n the r.-:-.t of the wor.• A SUSeep• I u!, • •I. CM.
. • , inuse or o her part of Mexico. Th- soil !ivato.ti In .
extra
. 1. .
, also,
for ch., most part, ri luarily fertile, and al,iin-
dant crops, with the assist.tece of irrigation m wale '
places, may be raised with very little labour. But this
only s•:rves to wake the Uezic-ao3 wore idle and wOrtli-
whaenrdeHenc-tee'llaewi