'Travels to Oaxaca' Summary

In 1776, French botanist Nicolas-Joseph Thiéry de Menonville embarked on a daring mission to steal cochineal insects and their cacti hosts from Spanish Mexico and transplant them to the French Caribbean. Cochineal insects were a valuable commodity, used to produce a vibrant red dye, and Menonville believed that their introduction to the French colony of Saint-Domingue would boost its economy. Disguising his true intentions, Menonville traveled to Mexico under the pretense of searching for a botanical cure for gout. However, his plans were soon discovered, and he was ordered to leave the country. Undeterred, Menonville devised a daring plan to escape Vera Cruz and make his way to Oaxaca, where the cochineal plantations were located. With the help of a group of monks, Menonville was able to reach Oaxaca and begin his mission. He spent several months living among the indigenous people, learning about their cultivation techniques and collecting specimens of cochineal insects and cacti. Eventually, Menonville was able to successfully smuggle his collection back to Saint-Domingue, where he successfully established a cochineal industry. Menonville's mission was a significant achievement in the history of botanical exploration and espionage. His work helped to boost the economy of Saint-Domingue and contributed to the development of the French textile industry.