Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-06-22

are the nave able rivers and .canals, The
roads, the modes of internal onveyagce,
the subjects of such interior trade, anQlls
degree and amount.
''Mexico has no lcana1s, and only two
nayiqable rivers, but both of these OF I'M
mense magnitude and course. The nfsl
OF these IS the grea, North river, called 70
the language Of the country, the no Gel
Norte, and the river Santiago; the former
of these as broad, as deep, and having rs
long a course as tbe famed MississIpPl---.
the latter. as broad, deep, and long: as
Elba and the Rhone. But neither Of these
rivers is much used in the actual state OF
Mexico, though in her present CONDITION Of
independence, they may shortly become
the means of diffusing opuience and GULL
walton through her vast territories.
.As the communication Of Mexico with
Europe and Asia is made only through the
two ports of Vera Cruz, and Acapulco,
all commodities and merchandise neces-
sariIy pass through The capital for one or
other of these destinations. We bave be-
fore had occasion to observe, that the land
of Mexico resembles hat, the coast be-
ing the rim and the high Main land, the
crown. Now the capital of Mexico is
seated in the very centre of the crown, We
IA Cruz being upon the rim or coast, 21O
English miles TO the west: whist Acapul-
CO is seated upon the opposite rim OF coast.
about Zoo miles to the east. The main
roads OF the empire are, therefore. these
rnads from Mexico to Vera Cruz, & from
Mexico to Acapulco. About 30 miles Of
the Zoo from Mexico to Vera Cruz, is
PERCEPTIONS descent from the mountains to
the coast, and the same may be said Of
the road from Mexico to Acapulco. The
mode OF conveyance for all goods is by
beasts of burthen, carrying packs mules
and horses. Wheel carriages are no. used
tor the transport of goods; but the roads
are covered with thousands OF mules, hor-
ses, Indians and mulattoes. who tend up
on, and accompany these beasts and their
burthens. The great Mexican roads have
thus most singular scenery, all activity,
life and business; and the town and villa
ges resemble European towns at the sea-
son OF our fairs.
1.-THE principal objects Of the interior
trade of Mexico are as tollows:-First,
the produce and merehandize imported or
to hp exported by the two ports Of Vera
Cruz and Acapulco. Secondly, the ex-
change Of produce or commodities between
the different provinces and the capital
And thirdly, the produce Of Peru, Quito
and Guatimala, which traverse mexico, in
order to be exported through Vera Cruz TO
Europe. The great variety of produce
arising from the different climates Of this
vast country. give an astonishing extent
and importance to this internal intercourse
Whilst one of the Mexican provinces re-
semtles the climate OF England. another
corresponds with the climate Of Jamaica,
and third with the delightful temperature
of Naples or the Msdeiras. Thus each
supplies the other with IFS peculiar luxury,
and arising to the different elevation of two
adjoining provinces, one being as it were
on the top o. mountain. the other half
way down the side; nothing can be more
extraordinary than the short distance be-
tween the two climates directly opposite.
and two species OF produce of the same
opposite character. You have Europe and
Asia, England, Italy Sweden, and Js-
maica, all within days Journey Of each
other ''Nothing more surprised me in
Mexico than this. If found the country
where happened 10 be too cold at break
fast-if the fogs reminded me ofthe banks
of the Thames, or the SHOWS reminded me
of Yorkshire-it was my own FAULT if did
not dine under the shady palm, and the
sycamore. with tropical sun in all lis
brightness over my head and birds 4. flow ]
ers of all hues around me on every side,
cannot express the singular effect OF these
sudden and opposite changes, go closely
in time and distance, following upon each
other.
"Being one day upon the road between
durango and Mexico, in travelling be-
tween Mexico and Lima, was an eye
witness of the astonishing 'extent of this
intercourse between the capital and the
provinces, and of the peculiar character
of the mode of conveyance. For mile az
ter mile, over hill and valley, | beheld
an endless file of at least ten thousand
mules and borses, going two by two a.
breast, and each loaded with a pack on
either side, every twentieth or thirtieth
file having two or more muleteers. besides
boys, women and girls. Upon enguiring
the contents Of the packs. | was told some
hundreds of them contained bars OF silver,
others cotton, coffee, cocoa, indigo, soap,
soda, leather, iron, steel. copper and mer-
curry; in word. every thing which is re.
qured tor the purpose of civilized bie.-
All these people and horses were moving
along with lite, spirit, and gaiety, beneath,
climate OF indiscribable brightness, and
a country OF incompatible beauty and lux
uriance. At least FIVE millions worth OF
goods (doiIarsl are conveyed in this mode,
which is as ancient as the times OF Monte
yuma, only that men were then porters
;pctood rs rnulos and horses