Page:About Mexico - Past and Present.djvu/33

Rh written. Prepared in another way, these leaves thatched the poor man's cottage. Its thorns served for pins and needles; its delicate fibres, for thread; and those which were heavier were twisted into cords or ropes. From its roots a palatable and nutritious food was prepared, while its juices, when fermented, made an intoxicating liquor on wich the old Aztecs were accustomed to get drunk.

On the coasts there were also forests of mahogany, Brazil-wood, iron-wood, ebony, Campeachy-wood, with numberless varieties of the palm tree. These forests swarmed with small animals, such as tapirs, porcupines, ant-eaters, sloths, monkeys and armadillos, with alligators in the streams. Scorpions, centipedes and other venomous creatures abounded everywhere. The silkworm also is indigenous to many parts of the country.

Mexico has few rivers of great length, and these are navigable only where they cross the narrow belt of lowland to reach the sea.

The mineral wealth of Mexico exceeded that of any other land, not excepting Peru, so famed for its precious metals. Gold was once the staple production of the country, as silver is now. It was found in placers, and was more easily worked than silver. With all that natives and foreigners have taken out of the earth, it is supposed that many valuable mines remain to be discovered. Of iron the natives knew nothing, though mountains of solid ore were found when the Spaniards opened this great mineral storehouse. Tin is abundant in Michoacan and Jalisco. Copper is very common, and lead is found in almost every silver-mine. In Oajaca are found amethysts, agates, turquoises and carnelians.

The beautiful marbles of Mexico have been used for