It is impossible in a description of this rich and varied State to sum up with accuracy what it produces either naturally or by introduction from abroad, for its genial climate, changed by the elevation of the interior portions of the State, renders it capable of yielding the fruits, the flowers, the grains, the woods, the vegetables and the animals of the temperate as well as of the torrid zone. Tobacco, coffee, sugar, cotton, corn, barley, wheat, jalap, sarsaparilla, vainilla, mameis, papayas, pine-apples, oranges, citrons, lemons, pomegranates, zapotes, bananas, chirimogas, aguacates, tunas, pears, watermelons, peaches, apricots, guyavas, grapes; mahogony, ebony, cedar, oak, dragon-blood, tamarinds, palms, dyewoods, and a thousand other plants, trees, shrubs, cereals and parasites, spring almost spontaneously from the soil, and render the necessary labor of man almost insignificant. After the strip of sandy sea-shore has been passed, and the country begins gradually to rise, health and rich vegetation follow the traveller's footsteps. He beholds on every side magnificent forests filled with majestic trees and illuminated by the splendid colors of flowers and buds. In the midst of these solitary folds among the mountains, farms and plantations are opened, which gleam with the freshest verdure of cane or corn; while over the levels, innumerable herds of cattle are fed from the mere fulness of the land, and without the necessary tending either of shepherds or vaqueros. An idea of this State's richness in cattle may be formed from the following account of the number it possessed in 1831,—the district of Jalapa being excluded from the list, inasmuch as there were no returns for that year:—

291,055neat cattle,
49,321horses,
9,396mules,
3,110asses,
17,680goats,
35,325sheep;

the total value of which, together with the cattle product of the canton of Jalapa, cannot be less than $2,000,000.

The principal cities, towns and villages of the State of Vera Cruz, are 1st, La Villa rica or La Villa Heroica de la Vera Cruz—the capital of the State; 2d, Tampico or Pueblo viejo de Tampico; 3d, Panuco; 4th, Tuspan; 5th, Misantla; 6th, Papantla. [On the road from the port of Vera Cruz to the western limit of the State, lie Paso de Ovejas, Puente del Rey or Puente Nacional, Plan del Rio, and El Encero, but these are small towns or villages of no great consideration.] 7th, Alvarado; 8th, Boca del Rio; 9th, Tlacotalpan; 10th, Cotastla; 11th, Talascoyan; 12th, San Martin Acayucam; 13th, San Andres Tuxtla; 14th, Santiago Tuxtla; 15th, Soconusco; 16th, Jaltipan; 17th, Chinameca; 18th, Orizaba; 19th, Cordova; 20th, Cosamaloapam; 21st, Aculzingo; 22d, Jalapa; 23d, Jalanzingo, and 24th, Perote.

The port of Vera Cruz lies in 19° 11´ 52´´ north latitude, and 98° 29´ 19´´ west longitude, from Paris, on a sandy plain,—interspersed with marshes,—which bound the Gulf of Mexico. Its unhealthiness is proverbial. From the month of May to that of November,—comprising the usual period during which the northers cease blowing,—the vomito prieto, or black vomit, prevails incessantly at Vera Cruz. None but natives of the town, or acclimated foreigners, are free from its attacks, and the frightful inroads it made among our troops, in the year 1847, will long be remembered in the history of our army and country. Time does not appear to have had any effect on this dreadful disease. Increase of population and sanatory precautions do not seem to abate its malignity; and the science of the ablest physicians is entirely at fault in dealing with it. Diarrhœa, dysentery and vomito are the most fatal and prevalent maladies at Vera Cruz; and, the latter disease, is reckoned to cause one-sixth of the whole mortality of the port.

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN VERA CRUZ IN 1830.
MONTHSBAROMETERTHERMOMETERHYGROMETERWATER FALLEN
HighestLowestGreatest
Heat		Least
Heat		Greatest
Dryness		Greatest
Humidity		FeetInchesTenths
Far.Reau. Far.Reau.
January, 30 62 30 2 77 8 20 7 66 8 15 6 6 25 0 5 1
February, 30 49 30 2 79 3 21 4 67 0 15 8 10 10 0 0 0
March, 30 44 29 94 82 2 22 7 72 1 18 2 14 19 0 0 0
April, 30 48 29 99 84 2 23 6 72 4 18 3 14 16 0 0 5
May, 30 28 29 95 85 9 24 8 78 8 21 2 11 11 2 7 4
June, 30 28 30 3 87 7 25 4 78 8 21 2 10 11 1 9 2
July, 30 29 30 12 86 5 24 7 76 2 20 1 14 6 4 11 7
August, 30 33 30 15 86 5 24 7 78 8 21 2 11 12 2 11 9
September, 30 36 30 15 85 8 24 4 77 5 20 6 16 12 3 2 9
October, 30 37 30 9 86 0 24 5 75 2 19 6 18 16 0 8 0
November, 30 37 30 5 84 0 23 6 70 8 17 6 8 15 0 4 5
December, 30 53 29 98 81 2 22 3 66 6 15 5 15 17 0 0 4
BAROMETER.
Greatest elevation 30 62
Greatest fall 29 95
Mean height 30 20
THERMOMETER.
Greatest degree of heat87 07Far.25 04Reau.
Least degree of heat66 06"15 05"
Mean temperature77 01"20 04"
In eighty-five days of rain the hyectrometer marked a fall of waterof seventeen feet one inch
and four-tenths of an inch.

Table showing the fall of water at Vera Cruz in the years from 1822 to 1830, both inclusive:

Years.Feet.Inches.Tenths.
18221315
18231589
18241071
18252064
1826[49]544
1827[50]2128
18281220
18292323
18301714