Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/684

664 success of this device to wring money from the subjects of Spain led to others of a similar kind; and as cock-fighting was a most attractive sport, in 1727 the exclusive privilege to open a public cockpit was sold to Isidro Rodriguez then followed that curse of a community, the establishment of a government lottery the profits accruing from which to the royal treasury amounted in 1798 to $109,255.

I may mention here the taxes imposed upon the sale of the native liquors, pulque and aguardiente, the first of which in the above named year produced a net profit of $779,166, and the latter $217,723. To enumerate all the complicated exactions, duties, and contributions imposed from time to time by the crown of Spain would be profitless; suffice it to say that every conceivable plan was adopted to increase the revenue. The salaries of royal and civil officials were taxed, as were later even the stipends of ecclesiastics.

There were three more sources from which a large