492 GUAYMAS TO 
and is used as a public warehouse, and for offices of 
the customs. . 
At the other end of the rock is a fine old church, 
built of dark gray stone, with some six or eight bells 
suspended in its ruined towers. The roof of the edi- 
fice has fallen in, and nothing now remains but its bare 
walls, which, owing to the solid manner in which they 
_ were built, are in good preservation. In front of the 
church is the plaza, which is completely inclosed by 
substantial stone buildings, some with tasty colonnades. 
_ Many of these buildings are in good preservation, while 
others are in a more or less ruined state. I noticed 
that some were undergoing repairs. 
The custom-house was for many years at Tepic, 
twenty-five miles distant, of which San Blas is the port. 
It remained there on account of the unhealthiness of 
San Blas, which in former years suffered greatly from 
epidemics. The plain of which I have spoken is often 
under water; and the exhalations from it cause malig: 
nant fevers, ‘besides giving birth to myriads of mos- 
quitoes and sand-flies. During the rainy season, from 
June to November, the place is uninhabitable, owing 
to the torrents of rain, which destroy the houses, and 
perfectly insulate the rock. San Blas affords meat, 
various kinds of fruit, and vegetables, of which our 
captain laid in a supply. A stream comes in at the 
plaza, which affords a good boat harbor; but outside, 
ships are obliged to anchor in the open roadstead, 
where they are exposed to westerly gales. 
Returning from this beautiful spot, Mr. Horn placed 
at my disposal the government barge, for the purpose 
of crossing the bay to an old ruined fort, from which 
