whale fisheries on the coasts. Only _one_ specimen of industry has
been sent from Peru!

[Illustration]

Mexico is another portion of South America. Its products are numerous,
but the country suffers much for want of water, though the dew falls
heavily every night. The soil is rich, and well cultivated, although
not so carefully as with us. Indian corn is the principal food of the
natives, and is cultivated so generally, that when the crop fails,
there is a year of famine. A drink is also made from it, called
chicha. Sweet potatoes, yams, and quantities of red pepper, together
with vegetables, and fruits, and tobacco, are grown. A kind of plant,
called a cacao, is so highly prized that the grains are used for
money.

For want of streams, of which the country is sadly deficient, the
mills are mostly worked by animals, and are very inferior; and the
machinery is so bad, that the cotton is separated from the seed by the
hands of workpeople. The principal manufactures are cigars, cottons,
soap, tanned leather, gunpowder, pottery, and hats.

The rich people use a number of silver vessels, and a quantity of
plate, on account of the want of manufactures of china and glass, so
that the trade of a silversmith is rather good. Boots, saddles, and
coaches, are well made: but the furniture, which is mostly of pine and
cedar, is coarsely and clumsily put together.

The streets of Mexico are rather wide and well paved; the houses
are ornamental, and the churches and public buildings are