Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 1.djvu/111

Rh of pounds collected during the same time was 37,835,104lbs.; so that the price current upon the spot, averaged two dollars, three and a half reals, a pound; it has varied, however, from six, to thirty-four reals, and has even risen from six, to twenty-four, in the same year.

The annual registered exportation of Cochineal from Veracruz, has amounted, according to the Consulado reports, during a term of twenty-five years, (from 1796 to 1820 inclusive,) to 34,316,961 dollars, being the value of 352,843 Arrobas of Cochineal; which gives an average of 1,372,678 dollars, and 14,113 Arrobas upon each year. The total registered produce of Ŏăxăcă being, as we have seen, 37,835,104lbs. (1,513,404 Arrobas,) on a term of fifty-seven years, which gives 26,550 Arrobas, as the average of each year, it becomes evident, that an illicit trade, to an enormous extent, must have been carried on; as the difference between the produce and the exportation, would give 12,437 Arrobas as the annual home consumption of Mexico, where, certainly, not half that number of pounds are employed. If, therefore, it be supposed that one-Fourth more is produced in Oaxaca than is registered, an allowance of at least one-Third must be made for contraband upon the coast. This would give 1,830,237 dollars as the value of the exportations, (taking 1,372,678 dollars as the average of the registers;) while the produce, adding one-fourth, as before stated, to the average registered value on fifty-seven years, (1,601,910