The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-09-13
Mexico,

= In the work lately published ID the citysof
Mexico by General Almonte,: the Best road be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans is stated
to he that traversihg the republic. from Vera
Cruz to San Bias, whether as regards personal
convenience, economy III time and money, or the
picturesque character of the district through
which it rIrs. Add to this, that these districts
are the most populated. In three and u half
days~fro,n Vera Cruz we reach: the capital by
diligence, aud thence continue on tue route to
San Bias, which can be gained ten days. OF
the capital Of the Mexican rcpublic-the seat Of
the supreme power of the copfedcratlun-t
General thus writes i
"NIore than FIVE centuries since it was founded
by the aborigines, wlo adopting the name OF
Tenoctilan, chose site on a lake in the midst
of a valley fourteen leagues long, seven broad
and forty in circumference, elevated seven hun
dred Spanish feet above the level Of the sea, and
girded by a crown of mountains sixty seven
leagues in extent. The city, in the highest state
of Indian supremacy, consisted Of 100000 hous-
es, dividedin to four quarters, each quarter adorn-
cd with numerous temples dedicated to idols,
the chief of which was ,Huitzilopochtle,7god Of
war, whose temple had forits base pyramid
forty feet high, and was reached by ! 40 steps;
the whose forming an appearance so imposing
as to astonish Cortez and his companions when,
on the 18th of August, 1251 l, they entered and
took possession of the city. Previous to.this
event, the grand plaza Of Plateloco was the pub
lie markerplace, of which designation there now
remains no indication. The plan of the city is
a square, with tho streets at right angles. The
extension within the. gates is $40 wares Of Cas-
tile from north to SOUTH and 3,G40 from east to
west. The water which supplies it, guided in
channels from the neighboring lakes, passes
around the walls and formerly intcrsected the
streets with canals, which were entered daily by
fleets of canoes that would sometimes ascend as
far as the National Palace in the grand plaza.
The city is still entered by the different cause
WAYS of stone constructed by the Indians; Of
these are those of Guadalupe, Tacba, San An
tonic, Aba,l. tits adorned by edifces which
command much admiration 10y their style and
character ofarchtecture, by fine public walks and
beautiful fountains; the water that supplies one
of these being conducted more thantwo leagues
bv an aqueduct of nine hundred arches. The
population of the city exceeds two hundred thou
sand, and in the different plazas vast traffic is
being continually carried on. The cllmnte may
be characterized as benign, and, though con-
tnual springs reigns, the seasons of the year are
sufficiently distinguished by the flowers and
fruits successfully produced. Without the walls,
except in the direction of the east, where the
country is sterile, from the vicinity of the great
lake, Tezcoco, the scenery is enlivened by the
richest vegetations, by farms of large extent, and
by gardens yielding abundance of flowers, fruits,
and vegetables.
"The fields abound in grasses, which at once
beautfy and serve for the support of herds OF
cattle. Watered as this region is by rivers and
by lakes the capital is readily supplied with the
most delicate and seasonable fruits throughout
the year, as well as other luxures Within this
rang of country are also found cedar, and other
rare trees, gums and drugs, numerous metallic
productions, marble and precious stones. And
in both valleys and mountains may be deserted
villages and country seats. As to the spirit OF
the Mexican people, Gen. Almonte atfirms, and
in this lone, we presume, will differ, that they
have great aptitude for the arts, and that in
character, generally speaking, they arc LIBERAL
courteous, atfablc, and charitable"