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.

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

If you are a married man resident in Cuba, you cannot get a passport to go to the next town without your wife's permission in writing.

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.

We were very kindly received by the English merchants to whom my companion had letters, and we set ourselves to learn what was the real state of things in Mexico.

There are even many huts built entirely of the universal aloe.

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