REVENUE AND INCOME, 
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123 
drawing any invidious distinctions, little is therefore hazarded 
in the assertion that both Yentosa and the Coatzacoalcos are 
superior in all respects to the ports of Panama and Nicaragua — 
a superiority which will be greatly enhanced on the completion 
of the projected improvements — especially when we consider 
the loss of time, and damages to cargo unavoidably resulting 
from distant lighterage in Panama, and the terrific violence of 
the papagayos along the Nicaraguan coast.* 
One of the readiest sources of revenue to the Tehuantepec 
Railroad, would be the products of the immense whaling fleet 
in the Pacific. In a communication to the Hon. J. A. Pock- 
well, made during the second session of the 30th Congress, this 
subject is so thoroughly discussed by Lieut. Maury that we quote 
him at some length. It is proper to state, however, that this 
estimate of returns had reference only to the income of the 
Panama project. As its application was admitted with regard 
to that route, it is presumed that no one will question its exten- 
sion to Tehuantepec, where, from all that has been shown, the 
argument applies with a force which is precisely equivalent to 
the superiority of its advantages over Panama. Lieut. Maury 
says : 
"According to the Whaleman! s Shipping List, of Jan. 9, 1849, published at 
New Bedford, there were at that time out upon the high seas a whaling fleet 
of 613 vessels, carrying, in round numbers, 200,000 tons. We subjoin a com- 
parative statement, drawn from the same authority, as to the quantity of bone 
and oil (sperm and right) imported for the last nine years : 
* In the recent work of Mr. Squier on Nicaragua, we find the following : — 
There is one grand objection to this port (San Juan del Sur), as also to all others 
which are found on the coast of the Pacific parallel to Lake Nicaragua, viz., the 
character of the prevailing winds. These are called papagayos, literally parrots, 
probably from the crooked bill of that bird, which illustrates their revolving direc- 
tion. They render approach to this portion of the coast extremely difficult. They 
prevail from Punta Desolada on the north, to Cape* Velas on the south, a distance 
of not far from two hundred miles, and are supposed to be caused by the north- 
east trades, which, as I have said, sweep entirely across the continent and Lake 
Nicaragua, and encounter other atmospheric currents on the Pacific. These trades 
are strongly felt, blowing off the shore for a distance of fifteen or twenty miles, 
beyond which the conflicting or revolving winds, or papagayos, commence." — Vide 
Sir Edward Belcher's Voyage round the World, vol. i., p. 185. 
