162 CHIHUAHUA TRADE. 
The first attempt to introduce American 
goods into the more southern markets of 
Mexico from Santa Fé, was made in the year 
1824. The amounts were very small, how- 
ever, till towards the year 1831. For a few 
of the first years, the traders were in the habit 
of conveying small lots to Sonora and Cali- 
fornia; but this branch of the trade has, I 
believe, latterly ceased altogether. Yet the 
amounts transferred to Chihuahua have gen- 
erally increased; so that for the last few 
years, that trade has consumed very nearly 
half of the entire imports by the Missouri 
Caravans. 
The entire consumption of foreign goods 
in the department of Chihuahua, has been 
estimated by intelligent Mexican merchants, 
at from two to three millions annually ; the 
first cost of which might be set down at nearly 
one half. Of this amount the Santa Fé trade, 
as will be seen from the accompanying table, 
has not furnished a tenth part; the balance 
being introduced through other ports, viz. : 
Matamoros, whence Chihuahua has received 
nearly half its supplies—Vera Cruz via the 
city of Mexico, whence considerable amounts 
have been brought to this department— Tam- 
pico on the Gulf of Mexico, and Mazatlan on 
the Pacific, via Durango, whence the imports 
have been of some importance—while nearly 
all the west of the department, and especially 
the heavy consumption of the mining town 
of Jesus-Maria, receives most of its supplies 
from the port of Guaymas on the Gulf of 
