a province of Mexico, or New Spain, in America, bounded on the north by Panuco and Guadalajara, on the east by Panuco and Mexico Proper, on the south by the Pacific Ocean, and on the west by Guadalajara and the South Sea. The soil is exceedingly fertile; and the climate so wholesome, that the Spaniards imagine it to be possessed of some peculiarly restorative quality; for which reason the sick and infirm flock to it from all quarters. The commodities are sulphur, indigo, sarsaparilla, sassafras, cacao, vanilloes, ambergris, hides, wool, cotton, silk, sugar, the root mechoacan or white jalap, and silver. This province formed an independent kingdom at the time Mexico was reduced by Cortez. The sovereign had long been the inveterate enemy of the Mexicans, and was considered, next to the republic of Tlalcala, as the most formidable barrier against the extension of the imperial frontier. However, he submitted to Cortez without striking a blow, being intimidated by the wonders he had performed with a handful of men; and thus Mechoacan became a province of the Spanish empire, and a valuable addition to Mexico.

The country at that time was exceedingly populous, but the natives are now much thinned; and that rather by the luxury and effeminacy introduced by the Spaniards, than by their tyranny. The capital of the province is also called Mechoacan by the natives, but Valladolid by the Spaniards.

White Jalap, in the materia medica, the root of an American species of convolvulus brought from Mechoacan, a province of Mexico, in thin slices like jalap, but larger, and of a whitish colour. It was first introduced into Europe about the year 1524, as a purgative universally safe, and capable of evacuating all morbid humours from the most remote parts of the body: but as soon as jalap became known, mechoacan gradually lost its reputation, which it has never since been able to retrieve. It is nevertheless by some still deemed an useful cathartic; it has very little smell or taste, and is not apt to offend the stomach; its operation is slow, but effectual and safe. Geoffroy affirms, that there is scarce any purgative accompanied with fewer inconveniences. It seems to differ from jalap only in being weaker; the