Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/81

 MEXICO. 49 this sketch, at four shilHngs, and the Arroba at 251bs. will give something more than sixpence a pound (English money) as the value of sugar in Mexico, within twenty leagues of the place where it is grown. When sent into the Interior, the price rises with every twenty leagues, un- til, in Durango, the Arroba sells for six and seven dollars, and in Chihuahua, for nine and ten. This can only be remedied by a more equal cultivation of the cane in those situations, which are more especially favourable to its growth ; and there is, perhaps, no Transatlantic speculation that would prove so advantageous as this, if properly con- ducted. I was induced, by the proximity of the great sugar es- tates of Cuernavaca, and Cuautla to the Capital, to visit the valley in which they are situated. It lies at the foot of the first step, or terrace, on the descent from the Table- land towards the Pacific, about 319 toises* below the level of the Capital; and extends nearly fifty miles, in a direc- tion from S.W. to N.E. The plains of Cuaiitla are con- siderably lower than those about San Gabriel, in the vicinity of Cuernavaca ; but, with the exception of a ridge of hills dividing the two valleys, the whole space from izucar to Cuernavaca is occupied by a succession of Haciendas^ (es- tates,) all of which are in a state of the most beautiful cul- tivation. The valley abounds in water, both for irrigation and machinery, which last, in the opinion of a gentleman who accompanied me, and who is well acquainted with our West India Islands, is fully equal to that employed in the British Colonies, where steam-engines have not been introduced. The crops are usually very abundant, the cane being • This is the level of the town of Cuernavaca itself, but the plains of San Gabriel are, I should think, at least eighty toises lower than the town, and those of Cuautla approach nearer to the level of Istla, which is 664 toises lower than Mexico. VOL. I. E