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Doc. No. 75. 



that a larger number are claimed to be under Mosquito jurisdiction, but I 

 cannot learn that they generally admit any such authority. The Mosqui- 

 tos are despised and avoided by most if not all the other native tribes, 

 who, in consequence of their prejudices and the general prevalence of a 

 leprous taint amongst the Mosquito people, permit no intermixture with 

 them, visiting with death (it is said) individuals guilty of such intercourse. 



There are no settlements of any kind nearer !San Juan than the EngHsh 

 settlement of Bluefields, seventy-five miles to the northward. Nor are 

 there any cultivated lands in the vicinity except the narrow space occu- 

 pied by the town, and a few cleared points on the island opposite. The 

 entire country is covered with a dense tropical forest. There are some 

 cows and dogs, and quite an abundance of fowls; but beyond these 

 sources the inhabitants are entirely dependant for provisions upon the 

 vessels which visit the harbor, and upon the '^bungos" which come down 

 the river San Juan from the interior. I am informed, however, that the 

 soil a short distance back from the coast is rich, and that industry alone is 

 needed to insure an abundant supply of all the productions of the tropics. 



The climate here is surprisingly salubrious, and uniform good health 

 prevails among the inhabitants. Foreigners observing proper precautions 

 need not, 1 am assured, form exceptions. It is now the commencement 

 of the rainy season, but the weather is very pleasant, and in respect of 

 temperature not widely different from that of the month of July in the 

 latitude of New York. The range of the thermometer during the twenty- 

 four hours is not so great; the range for the past four days has been from 

 79° to 85°. In the evening there is usually a pleasant and invigorating 

 sea breeze. 



Trade of Son Juctm, 



This port, with the exception of the article of turtle shell, has no source 

 of support besides the transit trade. Nearly all of the imports and exports, 

 of Nicaragua, and a considerable part of those of Costa Rica, pass through 

 here; and here also reside the agents of the foreign houses engaged in 

 trade with this portion of the continent. In fact, so far as commercial 

 facilities are concerned, it is far the most important point between New 

 Grenada and Mexico. It is, however, impossible to obtain much statisti- 

 cal information in confirmation of this remark, inasmuch as no proper 

 entries have been preserved, except for a few months past. 1 may be able 

 to obtain some accurate statements in time to append to this hurried 

 despatch. It may be safely asserted in general terms that most of the 

 trtide is in the hands of American houses. An Italian vessel comes once 

 a year, and one or two French vessels occasionally,, as also one or two 

 fi:om New Grenada and Jamaica. The British steamers now touch once 

 a month, and are slowly creating a trade. They have, in fact, already 

 almost monopolized the indigo trade, in consequence of being able, from 

 the rapidity of their movements, to render early returns — an object of vast 

 importance in this quarter. It might not be to the immediate advantage 

 of the American line of steamers to touch here, but ultimately it may 

 prove to the interests of the company and the United States. I shall refer 

 to this matter hereafter, accordingly as my information may or may not 

 be confirmed. The Costa Rica road from San Jose to this port, and 

 which will most certainly give this direction to a large part of the Costa 



