108 
PACIFIC PORTS. 
The bay of La Yentosa is much safer than the harbor of Yera 
Cruz. Yiolent tempests frequently render the latter inaccessible 
during several days, and even when the north wind blows the 
communication between the town and the vessels in the harbor 
is interrupted. During our sojourn at the Isthmus of Tehuan- 
tepec we have never had to record one tempest or hurricane on 
the Pacific Ocean. 
In December, 1850, while we w r ere at La Yentosa the north- 
northeast wind blew* with extreme violence from the 7th to the 
17th of that month, and we remarked, with surprise, that the 
sea was not agitated. 
To enable you to appreciate the condition of the sea at La 
Yentosa, such as it actually is, it would perhaps be well here to 
mention that our soundings were effected by means of an open 
boat, five feet beam by eighteen feet long, which we had 
brought from New Orleans, and which was conveyed across 
the Cordillera ; with this boat we were able to sail out eight 
miles into the open sea. 
"We have one more practical proof to furnish which will 
radically destroy all the doubts that might be conceived on the 
subject of the practicability of Yentosa as a harbor. It comes 
from a seaman of too much ability for it to be refuted. Below 
I give an extract from a letter of Captain Mott of the steamer 
" Gold Hunter," which anchored at Yentosa. This is dated 
April 11th, 1851. 
* I am much pleased with this port, Ventosa. The holding-ground is excellent, 
and the depth of six and seven fathoms almost all over the bay very convenient. 
During the four days we have been here, we have had two fresh southerly 
winds, and two strong northers. The former did not agitate the sea much, 
and the latter, though blowing very strong, has not straightened out the chains. 
We are still riding by the 1 bight, 1 which is buried in the clay-bottom." 
If a practical knowledge of this bay of Yentosa naturally 
suggests to the mind the means of rendering it available as a 
harbor, we must not, on the other hand, lose sight of the fact, 
that it must be the terminus of the road for powerful reasons. 
* Offshore. 
