solar time into the nicest correspondence. Agriculture was followed with skill, and its burdens were exclusively borne by the stronger sex. Maize was the staple crop. Cacao was cultivated for chocolate, and vanilla was used in the same way as with us. The mineral wealth of the country was well known, and largely explored by opening the veins in the solid rocks. The works of the gold, silver, and coppersmiths, were sold in the markets. Earthenware was also manufactured. Plumaje, or feather painting, was a favourite art, in which the gorgeous plumage of the tropical birds, yielding colours from the strongest to the softest aërial tints, was employed to produce exquisitely finished pictures.

Mexico was conquered by the Spaniards in 1521, and remained in connection with Spain nearly three centuries. The first struggle for independence commenced September, 1810, and lasted upwards of ten years. In 1822, Don Augustin de Iturbide was elected first Constitutional Emperor. In the following year, the empire became a republic, and formally adopted its constitution in 1824.

CENTRAL AMERICA.

405. Central America consists naturally of the whole strip of country connecting the two vast portions of the continent, but politically its limits are more contracted; Mexico possessing the Isthmus of Tehuantepec on the north, and New Grenada the Isthmus of Panama on the south, between which is the region occupied by the Central American Confederacy. It extends about 1,000 miles in length, from north-west to south-east, by from 80 to 300 miles in breadth, the area comprising 150,000 square miles. It lies entirely within the torrid zone, but while the low grounds are subject to intense heats, there is such an extent of elevated surface that a temperate climate is largely enjoyed. The coasts remarkably differ in configuration; the western, along the Pacific, being comparatively smooth, while the eastern, on the side of the Atlantic, is deeply invaded by the Bay of Honduras and the Caribbean Sea. Highlands, in the form of ridges and table-lands, traverse the interior, in the direction of its length, interrupted by the transverse plain of Nicaragua, and separated from the great North American chain by the depressed northern isthmus, while terminated southward by the low country of Panama. In few districts are volcanoes more numerous or violent in their eruptions; terrible earthquakes occur; and hot springs, with pools in constant ebullition, attest the activity of internal fires. The country possesses the advantage of having excellent ports on both seas, and rivers to some extent navigable, the Usamasinta discharging into the Gulf of Mexico; the Dulce and Motagua into the Bay of Honduras, and the San Juan into the Caribbean. It contains also spacious lakes, of which the large lake of Nica

ragua is nearly 400 miles in circuit. Vegetable products, consisting of mahogany, cedar, and dye-woods, indigo, sarsaparilla, vanilla, and balsam, with some mining produce and cochineal, are the staple articles of foreign commerce. -The population is estimated at upwards of 2,000,000, composed of whites of Spanish descent, indigenous Indians, and Ladinos or mulattoes. It is not unlikely that this district, hitherto little known, will become the highway of nations, by the construction of a grand oceanic canal, connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific, and thereby saving the tedious passage round Cape Horn.

Guatemala is the most northern of the federal states, bordering on Mexico, and extending from sea to sea. Its capital, of the same name, distinguished by the prefix of Nueva, or new, stands on a verdant plain, 4,961 feet above the ocean, about forty miles from the Pacific, and 100 from the Atlantic. Owing to elevation in the torid zone, it enjoys a perpetual spring, but has suffered from earthquakes. Old Guatemala, to the westward, the former capital, was almost destroyed by an earthquake in 1773, after which the Spanish government ordered its abandonment. There are magnificent ruins, and a considerable number of inhabitants. Two remarkable volcanoes are in its neighbourhood; the Volcano de Agua or water volcano, 12,620 feet, and the Volcano de Fuego or fire volcano, somewhat higher. The churches are the principal buildings.-Population, 35,000. Quezaltenango and Totonicapan are inland towns of some extent, mostly Indian, manufacturing coarse woollens and cottons. Izabal, on the Atlantic side, and Independencia, on the Pacific, are two small ports.

Honduras extends along the south coast of the bay to which its name is given, and has no direct communication with the Pacific. It has valuable mines, and extensive forests of mahogany. Comayagua, the capital, is inland. Omoa and Truxillo are small ports, the former much frequented.

Salvador occupies a portion of the Pacific coast to the south of Guatemala, and is the most densely peopled district, with San Vicente, in the interior, for its capital; but Sonsonate, near the sea, is the largest town. San Miguel, towards the southern border, is resorted to by merchants of all the states, at a great annual fair in November, after the indigo crop.

Nicaragua, to the south, stretches from shore to shore, and contains the lake of that name, interspersed with islands, with sufficient depth to be navigated by large vessels, communicating with the Atlantic by the river San Juan. A distance of about sixteen miles intervenes between the lake and the Pacific. Leon, the capital, near an extensive lagoon, was formerly the principal city, with est 50,000 inhabitants, but has been greatly reduced by civil contentions within its walls. Nicaragua, on the west bank of the great lake, is noted for its indigo and cacao. Population, 20,000. Grenada, similarly situated, further north, is smaller, but commands greater trade.

Costa Rica, "rich coast," referring to its metallic wealth, comprehends the country between the oceans from Nicaragua to New Grenada. It is the most flourishing of the states, order having been well maintained for some years, while anarchy has largely marked the rest. It consists of two departments, separated by a range of mountains-the Oriental on the Atlantic, and the Occidental on the Pacific side. Most of the articles peculiar to intertropical regions are produced in

abundance, coffee being the staple export. San Jose, the capital, is 4,500 feet above the sea, and about seventy miles from the east and west coasts.-Population, 16,000. Cartago, in its vicinity, has the same number of inhabitants. The district is highly volcanic, and is celebrated in history for the dreadful phenomena of the year 1723, when there were strong and frequent earthquakes, a dark fog of three days, the darkness rendering more apparent masses of fire which exploded over the city of Cartago from the volcano of Irasu, its first known eruption. On the south-eastern border of Costa Rica, at the mouth of the river Bethlehem, the first European colony on the American continent, was settled by Columbus, in his fourth voyage, in 1502.

The federal district, in the territory of Salvador, is a circle round the capital of the federation, San Salvador, twenty miles in diameter, with a further extension of ten miles towards the south, to include the roadstead of Libertad on the Pacific.-Population of the city 15,000.

Central America remained subject to Spain till the year 1821, when the declaration of independence was issued. It was incorporated at first with Mexico, but separated in 1823, when the present federal constitution was adopted. The last Spanish flag however floated in Omoa, to the 12th of September, 1832. There have been great internal troubles in several of the states, practically superseding the constitution. The national coat of arms, in allusion to the peculiarities of the country, is a range of five volcanoes on a plain washed by both oceans, with the inscription Federacion de Centro America.

Yucatan, a peninsula projecting northward into the Gulf of Mexico, was originally included in the Mexican federation, but is now an independent republic. Merida, the capital, is a fine Spanish city, with a noble cathedral, near the north coast.-Population 36,000. Campeche, the chief port, is on the west coast, exporting the dye-wood known by its name.-Population 18,000.

British Honduras, or Belize, a wood-cutting settlement, south of Yucatan, has a coast-line of nearly 200 miles, with an average breadth of 70 miles. But the landboundary has never been defined, and for more than half of the tract now occupied there has been no formal cession. Belize, on a river of the same name, is the only town; it is constructed almost entirely of wood. The forests abound with mahogany and logwood, the staple exports. During the dry season, from February to the close of May, the trees are felled, and drawn to the rivers. In June, the rains commence, the rivers swell, and the timber is drifted along by the currents, gangs of workmen following in canoes to extricate such logs as become entangled on the way. At the mouths of the rivers, the passage out to sea is prevented by booms. By August 1, the vessels are loaded, in order to sail on that day, to avoid the hurricanes prevalent in the Gulf of Florida, through which the passage to Europe is made. The settlement is under a superintendent appointed by the crown.-Population 5,000. Belize, or Balize, is the Spanish form of Wallis, a notorious buccaneer.

The Mosquito Territory is a long strip of coast eastward of Honduras and Nicaragua, under an Indian chieftain.

The most remarkable objects of the animal kingdom are the birds, of extraordinary beauty and great variety. The Oreole is distinguished for its pensile nests, fifty of which may be seen hanging in the forests from a single tree, each by a slight thread. But the quesal, Trogon resplendens, is the most celebrated for its exquisite green plumage, spotted on the wings with brilliant red and black, the long feathers of the tail being of green powdered with gold. These feathers used to be worn by the Aborigines as ornaments for the head. The bird is now held sacred by the Indians. It abounds in Guatemala, but is rarely found in other parts of America. The name quesal signifies "green feather," and that of the celebrated deity of the Mexicans, Quetzal-coatl, is supposed to be derived from an association of this bird and the serpent coatl.

PARTS OF THE ISTHMUS OF CENTRAL AMERICA DEEMED SUITABLE FOR THE PROJECT OF A SHIP-CANAL UNITING THE TWO OCEANS.

The first of these lines is in the Mexican territory, not less than 100 miles, but is not seriously thought of.

The second passes through Nicaragua, and along the boundary-river between that state and Costa Rica. It is the line attracting at present the most attention. The Rio San Juan is the outlet of the Lake of Nicaragua into the Atlantic. The navigation of the river is at present interrupted by rapids, though flat-bottomed barges pass down it from the lake. Between the lake and the Pacific there is an isthmus of about sixteen miles to be cut through, presenting low volcanic hills; and the lake is about 130 feet above the level of the ocean, so that locks would be required. The whole distance is estimated at 170 miles, nearly sixty of which are due to the windings of the San Juan. The difficulties to be overcome are great, but the engineering skill of the present age has successfully grappled with greater. By treaty between Great Britain and the United States, concluded at Washington, 1850, it has been agreed, in case the project is executed, that neither the one nor the other shall obtain any exclusive control over the said ship canal; that neither shall ever erect or maintain any fortifications commanding the same, or in the vicinity thereof, or exercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito coast, or any part of Central America. Vessels of the United States or Great Britain traversing the said canal, shall, in case of a war between the contracting parties, be exempted from blockade, detention or capture by either of the belligerents.

The remaining routes lie through the territory of New Grenada, and are projects towards which no serious preliminary steps have been taken.

WEST INDIES, BERMUDAS.

406. The West India Islands extend from the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico and the Strait of Florida, in a curving chain, to the coast of South America, terminating near the Venezuelan shores. They were originally so called from being supposed to lie in the route to the East Indies, but are sometimes styled the Columbian Archipelago, in honour of the first discoverer. The members of the chain exhibit great diversity in size, aspect, and structure. There are a few extensive insular masses, many of more moderate dimensions, and an immense number of islets called keys, rocks, sandbanks, and reefs. Some are tame and low; others bold and mountainous, consisting either of a single mountain, the slopes of which, with a plain at the base, constitute the island, or of a prolonged range, with similar features. All the Bahamas are but very slightly elevated above the sea, while the interior ridge of Jamaica rises 8,100 feet, and the Cibao range in Haiti attains 8,600, the highest point. The majority are of volcanic origin, while many are coralline formations, or exhibit layers of volcanic matter alternating with coralline rock. St. Vincent has an active volcano, Mount Garou, from which considerable eruptions have occurred in modern times; sulphurous vapour, and sparks of fire visible at night, are emitted by

the Souffrière, Sulphur-hill, of Guadaloupe; and fluid bitumen oozes from the bottom of the sea on both sides of Trinidad, rising to the surface of the water. Situated for the most part in the torrid zone, the heat is excessive on the lowlands during the tropical summer, from May till October, though daily moderated by the sea-breezes, which blow the strongest in the afternoon, when their cooling influence is most needed. At the same time, nothing can exceed the beauty of the nights; the atmosphere being so transparent, that almost the smallest print may be read by moonlight, and Venus shining with such splendour as to cast a clearly defined shadow. The heavy periodic rains commence in October, when the ground is deluged, lasting till December, the destructive yellow fever often raging in the interval. Hurricanes of dreadful violence occasionally visit particular islands, most commonly occurring in August; and some of the most fatal earthquakes on record have been experienced in the archipelago. The products consist of sugar, coffee, and cotton, the staple articles of culture; with indigo, tobacco, spices, medicinal drugs, various valuable trees whose woods take the finest polish, and delicious fruits in great abundance. The population amounts to upwards of 2,500,000, comprising three classes -pure negroes, still in a state of slavery in the Spanish islands, the most numerous body; whites, of different European nations; and a mixed race of mulattoes. Christian effort has long been directed to the evangelization of the negroes, and has been crowned with extensive success. It is not generally known that a Mohammedan negro community exists in Trinidad, the only one in connection with the western world.

The West India Islands are usually divided into three principal groups. 1. The Bahamas, which extend from the Strait of Florida, in a south-easterly direction, to the north of Haiti. 2. The Greater Antilles, consisting of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, and Porto Rico. 3. The Lesser Antilles, comprising the remainder. The term Antilles is derived by some from the words Ante Ilas, "Forward Islands," and hence its proper application is to the small islands eastward, as lying in front of the larger westward. A fourfold division is sometimes made of the last group, 1. The Virgin Islands, a cluster immediately east of Porto Rico. 2. The Leeward Islands, from the former to Dominica, inclusive. 3. The Windward Islands, from Martinique to Trinidad, inclusive. 4. The Venezuelan coast chain, from Trinidad in an horizontal line westward. But all these islands are really windward, in relation to the trade wind, except the Venezuelan, which are properly the leeward islands.