Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 1.djvu/103

Rh It is, therefore, not likely to become an article of exportation, and is only interesting to European commerce, from the quantity of paper used in the sugar manufactories: of these, as well as of the mode in which the Tobacco monopoly is conducted, I shall have occasion to speak elsewhere. The quality of the plant in New Spain is thought to be inferior to that of the Havanna.

The use of this plant was general among the Aztecs before the conquest: they called it Xiuhquilipitzahuac, (the pronunciation of which would be an admirable coup d'essai for any one who may desire to cultivate the Aytec tongue.) During the last century it has been almost entirely neglected, from the preference given in Europe to the indigo of Guatemala, or Central America, and the failure of the native cotton manufactures, in which it was principally used. A little indigo is now grown on the Western coasts, and an attempt is making to introduce it into the valley of Cūāūtlă; but, upon so small a scale, that many years must elapse before it can possibly rise into importance. In Yŭcătān, there are some plantations of indigo, and in Tŏbāscŏ, 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 Tabasco to the great