Mexico, its ancient and modern civilisation, history and political conditions, topography and natural resources, industries and general development; . of life and travel in Mexicovary much according to the particular part of thecountry we may be sojourning in or passing has advanced more upon the great plateau,threaded by numerous railway systems, than in the lessaccessible regions of the Pacific and Atlantic national life has not developed much upon thelittoral. A harbourless and riverless country, aboriginalcivilisation made little use of its coasts, and t
Mexico, its ancient and modern civilisation, history and political conditions, topography and natural resources, industries and general development; . of life and travel in Mexicovary much according to the particular part of thecountry we may be sojourning in or passing has advanced more upon the great plateau,threaded by numerous railway systems, than in the lessaccessible regions of the Pacific and Atlantic national life has not developed much upon thelittoral. A harbourless and riverless country, aboriginalcivilisation made little use of its coasts, and the samenatural conditions have existed until to-day, althoughnow, at great cost, harbours are being created and trans-verse railway lines being built. Yet upon the great plateau, which, indeed, embodiesa large part of Mexico, life is harder—at any rate for thelabouring classes—than in the tropical regions borderingupon the Pacific and Atlantic slopes, and of that equallyor more tropical region to the south of the Sierra clad, the peon suffers from the brusque changefrom torrid day to bitterly cold night which the climate 230. MEXICAN LIFE AND TRAVEL 231 of the great tableland produces. The ground is gener-ally sterile by nature—as elsewhere described—and allproduce is grown under irrigation. In many parts of theregion water is scarce, or is employed for the irrigationof highly remunerative crops, such as cotton, leaving aminimum for the growing of food products. In this aridregion natural pasture is scarce, with a consequent dearthof cattle and their produce, whilst cereals, fruits, andvegetables are far from plentiful. Consequently thepeon has but a small choice of comestibles. In the more tropical belt, however, the vegetation isprofuse, and fruits, cereals, and any product of thevegetable world grows almost spontaneously, or with aminimum of care. Bananas, oranges, sweet potatoes,sugar-cane, and a variety of eatables—all easily acquired—increase h
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