114 SPOUTING ADVENTURES 



The export duty on silver is 9^ per cent., 

 while that on imported goods is 100 per cent., 

 and sometimes more ; the result of this suicidal 

 system is most damaging to the interests of 

 the country, and is calculated to encourage 

 smuggling, which is carried on to a very great 

 extent. 



Notwithstanding the profits arising from 

 these monstrous charges there is never any 

 money forthcoming, when required, to feed, 

 clothe, or transport troops, or for any other 

 purpose. The wretched soldiers are badly fed, 

 poorly clad, and seldom paid. If it is necessary 

 to move a body of troops from one place to 

 another a requisition is made upon the foreign 

 merchants for the money, with the understand- 

 ing that if it is not paid the soldiers will 

 probably help themselves ; as a necessary con- 

 sequence the merchants prefer to advance the 

 money to the alternative of having a lawless, 

 half-starved rabble let loose upon them. 



To a sportsman Mazatlan presents unusual 

 attractions; a long chain of lagoons extend from 



