TAMPICO. 22 



were absolutely forced to rise in the night, and dress 

 ourselves before we could sleep. 



The fourth — but no, I will save a few miseries to qual- 

 ify some future page of enjoyment. 



As late as 1825, the site of the present town of Tarn- 

 pico was solely occupied by a few Indian huts, and the 

 feeble commerce carried on in the port was concen- 

 trated at the Pueblo Viejo, or Old Town, situated on 

 the shore of a shallow lagoon a few miles distant, in the 

 state of Vera Cruz. The difficulty of approach, added 

 to the heavy dues exacted for all goods crossing into the 

 state of Tamaulipas on their road to the interior, seems 

 to have directed the attention of the merchants and 

 other speculators to the present site. And truly no pos- 

 sible position could have been better chosen, as it is 

 nearer the bar, situated on the main river, with sufficient 

 depth of water to admit vessels of burden to anchor 

 close to the town, and, moreover, commands an unimpeded 

 interior navigation for one hundred and twenty miles 

 up the country. Were it not for the annual visits of the 

 yellow fever, and the irremediable difficulties which the 

 interposition of the bar imposes upon the merchant, there 

 is no doubt that Tampico would become the most flour- 

 ishing port in New Spain. As it is, vessels are frequent- 

 ly detained four or five months ; being blown off and on 

 by the frequent severe gales, before they can unload and 

 get inside the bar ; and held prisoners as long, before 

 they can cross it again. 



The new town is built in regular squares, upon the 

 narrow and depressed termination of a rocky peninsula, 

 at the lower extremity of a cluster of lakes which 

 empty their waters into the gulf by the river Panuco^ 

 The houses have no pretension to uniformity in their 

 style of architecture. The European merchant builds 

 substantial stone stores and dwelling houses, according 

 to the fashion of his country. The American runs 

 up his flimsy clap board edifices. The Mexican of 

 Spanish descent exhibits his taste and his knowledge 

 of the climate by low thick walls, gayly painted and 

 flat-roofed habitations, with internal courts ; and the 



