Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/91

 MEXICO. 59 an attempt is making to introduce it into the valley of Cuautla ; but, upon so small a scale, that many years must elapse before it can possibly rise into importance. In Yucatan, there are some plantations of indigo, and in Ta- basco, according to the statistical report transmitted by the State to Congress, it is a natural production of the soil, which is marshy and hot. Indeed, from the vicinity of Ta- basco to the great indigo plantations of San Salvad5r, (in Guatemala,) which produce annually 12,000 tercios, or 1,800,000 lbs. of indigo, valued at 2,000,000 of dollars, there is reason to suppose that the plant might be cultivated there with success ; but for this, as for every thing else in Mexico, time is requisite. The resources of the country cannot be developed in a day ; and whatever the future capabilities of Tabasco may be, it is now one of the poorest states of the Federation. CACAO. Cacava quahuitl. It is from Mexico that both the use, and the name of chocolate, (Aztec chocolatl,) were borrowed, and introduced into Europe ; but the cacao of Soconusco, (in Central Ame- rica,) from its superiority to all others, has entirely sup- planted, in Mexico, the use of the cacao of Mexican growth, and but little attention is, consequently, paid to its cultiva- tion. The plant appears to succeed better nearer the Equa- tor, in the low hot grounds of Caracas, Guatemala, and Guayaquil, where it is now grown to a great extent. From all of these Mexico draws an annual supply : but there are still some plantations of cacao near Colima, (on the Western coast,) in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and in the State of Tabasco, where it appears, by the statistical report of 1826, to form an article of considerable importance. Like indigo, it is supposed to have been originally an indigenous plant, but the principal plantations are now found on the banks