304 TOWNS POPULATION STATE OF GUERRERO. 



On the west coast of the Peninsula, north of Cape San Lucas, 

 and between that point and the 24th degree of N. latitude are the bays 

 of San Barnabe and De los Muertos. Between the 24th and 25th 

 degrees is the bay of La Paz, an extensive indenture, protected to- 

 wards the gulf by numerous isles and islets and affording excellent 

 anchorages for vessels of any draft or any number. In this vicinity 

 are the principal pearl fisheries as well as the most reputed mining 

 districts. It is the outlet of the cultivated valley of Todos Santos 

 and of the produce of the whole region lying between Santiago and 

 Loreto. The cove or estero, opposite the town of La Paz, furnishes 

 spacious and secure anchorage, which may be reached by vessels 

 drawing not more than eighteen or twenty feet; while the cove of 

 Pichilingue, at the south-eastern extremity of the bay, about six miles 

 from the town, affords anchorage for vessels of any size; but the 

 inner bay can be reached only by merchantmen. The bar, how- 

 ever, between the two is only a few yards in extent ; and if the 

 importance of the place should ever justify it, the channel might be 

 deepened without much expensive labor. There is an anchorage 

 at Loreto at about 26° north, and there are several places of resort 

 and anchorage in the bay of Muleje, between 26° and 27°, but 

 none are deemed secure for large or small craft at any season. 

 Several other ports are found on the gulf further north, which are 

 visited occasionally by coasters, but the region is as yet quite unex- 

 plored, and their commercial or military value is of course un- 

 known. Beyond the bay of Muleje, which is nearly opposite the 

 Mexican port of Guyamas on the main continent, the gulf is so 

 much narrower than further south, that it becomes in a great degree 

 a harbor itself. 



The only towns of any importance on the peninsula are those of 

 Loreto, and La Paz the capital and seat of government. The pop- 

 ulation is of course chiefly an Indian and mixed race, for but few 

 whites were ever tempted to prolong their residence in this lonely 

 and unattractive region. 



THE STATE OF GUERRERO. 



This State was created by virtue of the fourth article of the Acta 

 de Reformas, passed on the 18th of May, 1847, amending the con- 

 stitution of 1847. By this article it was agreed that the State of 

 Guerrero should be formed of the districts of Acapulco, Chi- 

 lapa, Tasco and Tlapa, and the municipality of Coyucan, — the three 



