return from England, to make a single excursion to any distance from the Capital, although there were many places in its vicinity which, from their importance, either as mining districts, or as the seats of the most valuable agricultural produce of the country, I was anxious to visit. In February, 1826, however, I commenced a series of Journeys, which I continued, at intervals, during the whole remainder of my residence in Mexico, and in the course of which I visited in person all the most interesting portions of the Republic, South of Durango. I cannot but hope therefore, that it may be in my power to lay before my readers, some information respecting the general character and resources of New Spain; and although I feel that a journal, devoid as mine is of any extraordinary incidents, and consisting merely of a recapitulation of the every-day difficulties of a traveller's life in passing through a wild country, can possess but few attractions, yet as I know no other mode of conveying an equally good idea of the peculiarities which I wish to describe, I shall adopt this form in the narration upon which I am about to enter; subdividing my journeys into Sections, in order to render more distinct my account of the most interesting districts.
Before I commence, however, upon this plan, it may be as well to mention a few particulars respecting the country in the vicinity of the Capital, and to give my route from thence to the valleys of Cūērnăvācă and Cūāūtlă Ămīlpăs, in which are situ-
