The City of _Mexico_, Capital of the Country and the Residence of the Vice-roy, is about eighty Leagues distant from _Veracruz_, to the Westward, the Way to it very bad and ill furnish’d with Provisions. That Country would be better in some Parts, if the people had the skill and energy to till it. They sow but little of our Wheat, and are satisfied with _Indian_ Corn[128] and _Cassabi_ Root, whereof they make Cakes, as is practis’d in the Islands. Their Trees and Fruits are the same as in other hot Countries. About the Town of _Veracruz_, there are Bushes of a Sort of Thorn, without Leaves, among which grows an extraordinary Plant; for tho’ it has but a small Stem, it shoots out Leaves of a Cabbage Green, as thick as a Man’s Finger, which grow out, one at the End of another, in the Shape of a Racket, and the Plant itself is so call’d. From those Leaves there grows out a Sort of red Figs, very juicy, with Seeds like those of the Pomgranate; the Juice is of a Violet Colour, but unsavoury. There is a Sort of Flies that cleave to it and are so fond of the Taste of the Fruit, that they burst and drop down dead. They are carefully gather’d and dry’d, and are the Scarlet Dye, call’d Cochinilla, which is brought into _Europe_, and makes that beautiful Colour. The Birds and Beasts are much the same as in other Countries of _America_. There is a Sort of Bird, all red, which for that Reason is call’d the _Cardinal_; this they often tame and teach to sing like a _Canary_ Bird. This is what I have been told concerning the Town of _Veracruz_.
As for the _Havana_, a Town and Port no less famous, in the Island of _Cuba_, belonging as well as the other to the Crown of _Spain_, it stands towards the Western End, and on the North Side of that Island, almost under the Tropick of _Cancer_, and about four or five hundred Leagues on this Side of _Veracruz_. It is large and beautiful; the Port good, secur’d by two Forts on the two Sides, and good artillery, from twenty four to thirty six Pounds, the Entrance so narrow, that only one Vessel can go in at once. The Town is encompass’d by a good Wall, fortify’d with five Bastions, furnish’d with Cannon. The Streets are all as strait as a Line, and level, the Houses very handsome, but ill furnish’d. In the Midst of it is a fine Square, the Buildings about all uniform. The Churches are magnificent, and enrich’d with Gold and Silver, Lamps, Candlesticks, and Ornaments for the Altars. There are some Lamps curiously wrought, which weigh two hundred Marks of Silver, [each Mark being half a Pound.][129] The Revenue of the Bishoprick amounts to more than fifty thousand Crowns, and he who enjoy’d it in the Year 1703, as I was inform’d by my Friend, who gave me this Account of what he had seen, was the greatest Ornament of that City, for his Virtues and Charity, being satisfy’d with Necessaries, and spending all the rest upon the Poor, and in repairing decay’d Churches. Tho’ Strangers are prohibited to trade there, yet it is easier carried on than at _Veracruz_. The Inhabitants are more familiar; the Women have more Liberty, yet they do not go Abroad without their Veils to wrap and hide them. Many of them speak _French_, and dress after the _French_ Fashion, and some of our Nation have settled themselves there. When my Friend was there, a magnificent Festival was celebrated for fifteen Days successively, in Honour of K. _Philip_ the Fifth, and Monsieur _du Casse_ being then there, with his Squadron, the City desir’d him to join with them. To that Purpose, he set ashore five hundred Men, who perform’d the Martial Exercise in the great Square, which was much admir’d. The _Havana_ is the Place, where the Galeons meet. By this word should not be understood ships of extraordinary size; for most of them are but very inconsiderable craft which _Spanish_ vanity strives to magnify by a swelling name. But if these ships are not great, their precious freight is so. For all that, this city, the gateway to the treasures of the _West Indies_, is full of beggars—but it is by their own fault, and by their idleness that they are such. Provisions are dear there, especially Bread; but the Wine is not, tho’ it is good. Fish and Flesh there, are unsavory. The Inhabitants are _Spaniards_.