THE CHIHUAHUA TRADE. 65 
with all its sacred and most endearing recol- 
lections, is sure to haunt them in the hour of 
trial, and almost every step of their journey 
is apt to be attended by melancholy reflec- 
tions of home and domestic dependencies. 
Before starting on this new journey I deem 
it proper to make ‘a few observations relative 
to the general character of the Chihuahua 
Trade. Ihave already remarked, that much 
surprise has frequently been expressed by 
those who are unacquainted with all the bear- 
ings of the case, that the Missouri traders 
should take the circuitous route to Santa Fé, 
instead of steering direct for Chihuahua, inas- 
much as the greatest portion of their goods i is 
destined for the latter city. But as Chihuahua 
never had any port of entry for foreign goods 
till the six or eight years, the market of 
that department had to be supplied in a great 
measure from Santa Fé. By opening the 
ports of El Paso and Presidio del Norte, the 
commercial interest was so little affected, that 
when Santa Anna’s decree for closing them 
again was issued, the loss was scarcely felt 
at all. 
The mode of transmitting merchandise 
_ from the ports to the interior, is very different 
from what it is in the United States. It is not 
enough to have to pass the tedious ordeal of 
custom-houses on the frontier ;—we have not 
only to submit to a supervision and repay- 
ment of duty on arriving at our point of desti- 
nation, but our cargo is subject to scrutiny at 
every town so have to pass through on our 
