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PICTURES OF LIFE
IN
MEXICO.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
Aspect of the country—Its different temperature and atmosphere—Principal cities—Plan of houses—State of society—Power of the priests—Middle and lower classes of people—Upper classes—Costumes—Mineral and vegetable productions—Scenery of Vera Cruz—Route to Xalapa—Town and suburbs—Gorgeous scene—Puebla.
The country of Mexico, generally, presents a very striking and peculiar aspect to a visitor from Europe. Its abrupt changes of climate and uneven volcanic structure, its rich natural productions and splendid scenery, together with the picturesque appearance of a portion of its inhabitants, and the wild looks of the remainder, arrest the attention most forcibly; while the degraded condition of its whole popu-
