276 



MEXICO. 



The treasure is insured in London^ the instant 

 advices arrive of its being actually shipped ; thus 

 the consignee, or the holder of the bill, in Eu- 

 rope, becomes certain of his money in the course 

 of time, whatever be the fate of the ship. If she 

 arrives safe, he receives the identical hard dol- 

 lars ; if not, the insurers make up the loss. Thus, 

 it is interesting to remark, the instant accounts 

 are received that gold or silver has been placed 

 on board a ship of war, at ever so great a dis- 

 tance ; it, or rather its representative, the bill of 

 lading, acquires an exchangeable value in the 

 London market. It may, and sometimes does 

 happen, that part of the returns in the shape of 

 goods actually reaches South America before the 

 money itself has arrived in England. There is, 

 perhaps, no instance in which the beneficial influ- 

 ence of insurance on commerce is more obvious 

 than in these shipments of treasure. 



We experienced a great difference between the 

 climate of San Bias and that of Tepic, especially 

 at night. At both places it was disagreeably hot 

 during the day, but at Tepic, which stands on an 

 elevated plain, the thermometer fell 15^ or 20° at 

 night, whereas at San Bias, which is close to the 



