Culture or civilization, taken in its wide ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society

Everything that is really Mexican is either Aztec or Spanish.

During the Tertiary period the whole valley of Mexico was one great lake.

The journey and excursions in Mexico which have originated the narrative and remarks contained in this volume were made in the months of March, April, May, and June of 1856, for the most part on horseback.

The interior of Mexico consists of a mass of volcanic rocks, thrust up to a great height above the sea-level.

There was no romance about the mosquitos, however.

The habit of building houses upon piles, which was first forced upon the people by the position they had chosen, was afterwards followed as a matter of taste, just as it is in Holland.