170 THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



is agitated in the present congress. All kinds of pro-visions^ 

 except luxuries, as wine, &c., are admitted free. Manufac- 

 tured goods, as furniture, and American cottons, pay an ad 

 valorem duty of ten per cent, which is the highest levied ; 

 silks and similar goods pay five. 



The exports are confined to coined gold and silver, which 

 pay a duty of two per cent., (in bullion they are prohibited,) 

 and copper and copper ores. The following table, the informa- 

 tion for which was obtained from the captain of the port, ex- 

 hibits a view of the number of vessels which have visited this 

 port from the 1st of November 1831, to September 14 1832, 

 being ten and a half months. 



Nation. 



Ships. 



Brigs. 



Schooners. 



Peru, 





4 



13 



United States, 



7 



3 



8 



Chile, 





2 



13 



England, 



3 



3 





France, 



6 



3 





Holland, 





1 





Mexico, 







1 



Colombia, 





1 





Buenos Ayres, 







1 



Russia, 



1 







Sardinia, 





1 





Hamburg, 





2 



2 



From the 9th of March 1831, to the 14th September 1832, 

 being seventeen months, ten ships, ten brigs, and three schoo- 

 ners, under American colors, have visited this port, and some 

 of them several times. 



During our stay here, a day was devoted to a visit to the 

 mines. Having prepared a basket with some cold meats, wine, 

 water, &c., we left the ship in the gig, and pulled to Catica, 

 which is about two leagues from the anchorage. At this place 

 the landing is bad, and generally efiected through the surf on 

 balsas. The captain of the American ship before mentioned, 

 loading copper ore for Swansey, Wales, joined our party. We 

 examined the bellows furnace here, and a heap of ore, which 



