The leaves of the maguey plant are six or eight feet long. They are used for boards and shingles. The sharp thorns at the ends of the leaves are used to serve for nails, needles, and pins. The fiber is twisted into rope and string.
Rich Spanish-Americans build their homes around three sides of an open court filled with flowers and called a patio. Through this patio people enter and leave the house.
Gathering pulque in Mexico.
The cochineal cactus was formerly cultivated very largely, but is not so important now because other dyes are used. Upon its thorny leaves countless numbers of the cochineal insect feed. They are gathered, killed with hot water, and dried in the sun. When ground into powder, they make a beautiful scarlet dye.
4. The mineral wealth of Mexico is very great. Its mines of silver are the richest in the world. In the gulf of California pearls are found.
5. In government Mexico is a republic, like our own country. It consists of a number of different states, united under one president.
6. Early History.—When Europeans first came to the "New World", the king of Mexico was Mon-te-zu'-ma.
In 1519 a Spaniard called Cortes went to Mexico with 600 Spanish troops. Montezuma treated him kindly; but the Mexican people felt sure that Cortes wished to take their land. They attacked his troops, and when Montezuma begged them not to do so, they stoned him. In a few days he died. Cortes captured Mexico, and it belonged to Spain until 1821. Then it became independent.
7. Cities.—Mexico, which stands on the site of the old capital, is a beautiful city. It is surrounded by majestic mountains, two of which are always snow-clad. The climate is delightful. The houses are built without chimneys, and the gardens are fragrant with flowers all the year round.
Vera Cruz (vay'-rah-krooz) is the principal seaport. It is a very unhealthful city.
8. Central America lies between Mexico and South America. It contains six republics, and the colony of British Honduras.
The country is mountainous, and its climate is like that of Mexico.
Many of the mountains are volcanoes. Coseguina is one of the most remarkable. In 1835 it threw out such a shower of ashes that the air was darkened, even at places fifty miles distant. Friends could not recognize one another, and chickens went to roost.
The most important products are coffee, cacao, sugar, vanilla, and mahogany.
The forests yield mahogany, which is much used in making furniture.
Shipping bananas in Costa Rica.
We get coffee from all the Central American states,
