Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/41

 general acceptation, all that is not included under one of the other two divisions. By many, however, it is thought to apply more particularly to a climate such as that of Jălāpă and Chilpanzingo, (on the Eastern and Western ascent from the coast,) both of which are very much below the level of the Table-land: and I have myself found, that whenever applied by the inhabitant of any one place to the temperature of any other, it denoted an increase, and not a diminution, of heat. Thus, Jălāpă would certainly be called Tierra templada, by a native of Mexico, although Mexico might not, perhaps, be so termed by a native of Jălāpă; while both would be designated in the same way by an inhabitant of Tierra fria, to whose district nature has assigned a degree of warmth much inferior to that of either of the other two.

Notwithstanding the arbitrary manner in which these terms are used, I shall frequently employ them in the course of this work; for, until a barometrical survey of the whole country has been executed, and the relative height of the principal points fixed, it would require a tedious explanation to give the ideas which the words Tierra caliente, and Tierra templada, are sure to convey. In order to illustrate still farther the peculiar character of the country, of which I fear that no words can furnish an adequate idea, I subjoin a sketch of Mexico, which, supposing it a bird's-eye-view, without any pretensions to geographical accuracy, may serve to show the relative position of the Tierra caliente and the Table-land, and to explain the variety of climate in the intermediate space.

The former division of New Spain into what was denominated the "Kingdom of Mexico," and the Eastern and Western Internal provinces, was never very distinct, and is now of little importance; as the Republic is distributed, under the present system, into States, of which the Federal government is composed. These States are nineteen in number, and commence to the South, with the Peninsula of