Monarchical _regime_ of Iturbide--Great area of Mexican Empire--Santa Anna--The Holy Alliance--Execution of Iturbide--The Monroe Doctrine-- British friendship--The United States--Masonic institutions--Political parties--Expulsion of Spaniards--Revolution and crime--Clerical antagonism--Foreign complications--The "pie-war"--The Texan war--The slavery question--Mexican valour--American invasion of Mexico--Fall of Mexico--Treaty of Guadalupe--Cession of California--Gold in California--Benito Juarez appears--Conservatives and Liberals--Massacre of Tacubaya--The Reform laws--Disestablishment of the Church--Dishonest Mexican finance--Advent of Maximilian--The English, Spanish, and French expedition--Perfidy of the French--Capture of Mexico City by the French--Crowning of Maximilian--Porfirio Diaz--Rule of Maximilian--Fall of his empire--Death of Maximilian--The tragedy of Queretaro--Diaz takes Mexico City--Presidency of Juarez--Lerdo--Career and character of Diaz--First railways built--Successful administration of Diaz-- Political stability--Forward policy. CHAPTER VIII PHYSICAL CONDITIONS: MOUNTAINS, TABLELANDS, AND FLORA AND FAUNA. . 134 Geographical conditions--Tehuantepec--Yucatan--Boundaries and area-- Population--Vera Cruz--Elevations above sea-level--Latitude--General topography--The Great Plateau--The Sierra Madres--The Mexican Andes-- General structure--The coasts--Highest peaks--Snow-cap and volcanoes-- Geological formation--Geological scenery--Hydrographic systems-- Rivers--Navigation--Water-power--Lakes--Climate and temperatures--The three climatic zones--Rainfall--Snowfall--Flora and fauna--Soil-- Singular cactus forms--The desert flora--The tropical flora--Forest regions--Wild animals--Serpents, monkeys, and felidae--Sporting conditions--Birds. CHAPTER IX THE MEXICAN PEOPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Ethnic conditions--Spanish, Mestizos, Indians--Colour-line--Foreign element--The _peones_--Land tenure--The Spanish people--The native tribes--The Apaches--The Mexican constitution--Class distinctions-- Mexican upper class--Courtesy and hospitality--Quixotism of the Mexicans--Idealism and eloquence--General characteristics--Ideas of progress--American anomalies--_Haciendas_--Sport--Military distinctions--Comparison with Anglo-Saxons--Republicanism--Language-- Life in the cities--Warlike instincts--The women of Mexico--Mexican youths--Religious observance--Romantic Mexican damsels--The bull-fights. CHAPTER X THE CITIES AND INSTITUTIONS OF MEXICO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178