Spanish America, Vol. 1 (of 2)Bonnycastle, Richard Henry, Sir
History
Spanish America, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Bonnycastle, Richard Henry, Sir
Latin America -- Description and travel; Latin America -- History
_THE INTENDANCY OF GUADALAXARA._
THIS, with Zacatecas, formed New Gallicia, in the former division
of New Spain. It is bounded on the north by Sonora, and New Biscay,
on the east by Zacatecas and Guanaxuato, on the west, by the
Pacific, and on the south, by Valladolid, or Mechoacan; it is 118
leagues long, and 100 broad. This province is of importance, from
being the seat of a royal audience, or supreme court, which, as
before observed, governs in civil affairs, more than one-half of
New Spain. It was established in the year 1548.
Guadalaxara, contains a population of 630,500 souls, and its
eastern side is a part of the declivity of the plain of Anahuac;
the western side is mountainous, and covered with extensive
forests. On the sea coast, the air is hot and unhealthy, but on the
heights, pure and wholesome.
The chief productions of this country are wheat, maize, cotton,
and cochineal, all of which are produced in very great abundance.
Guadalaxara contains two cities, six towns, and 322 villages; there
are five mines of silver of great value, the chief of which is
Copala.
The great river of this country is the river Santiago, which
crosses it from east to west, communicating with Lake Chapala.
The volcano of Colima is the most striking feature in this
province, and is the last of those which lie on the same parallel
to the west. Its height is near 10,000 feet above the sea, and its
crater continually ejects smoke and ashes. This volcano is isolated
from the neighbouring chain.
The Rio Santiago, or Rio Grande, is a noble stream, which rises
in the Nevada de Toluca, near Mexico, and after traversing the
extremity of Valladolid, or Mechoacan, and Guanaxuato, crosses the
province of Guadalaxara, first going through the northern extremity
of Lake Chapala; it throws itself into the Pacific, at the point of
St. Blas; in Valladolid it bears the name of Rio Lerma.
Lake Chapala is a fine sheet of water of this province, much larger
than the Mexican lakes, and has some islands in it; it is about
ninety miles long, and thirty broad, but its dimensions are not
accurately ascertained.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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