South America.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



23 



Regulations. — A copy of the manifest, attested and translated by the 

 Government interpreter, to be exhibited within ten hours after anchoring. 

 If goods are not landed from the ship, it must sail again within six days. 

 A consignee to be named within 48 hours, who is responsible for duties, 

 which are payable by him in three equal instalments. A diflerence between the 

 invoices and cargo is punished, if remarkable, with confiscation ; if incon- 

 siderable, with double duty on the excess. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — The bread at Lima is particularly 

 excellent; the mutton and beef are very good ; poultry, pork, and fish are 

 plentiful. At the Port of Callao watering is easy; but the wood is a mile or 

 two distant. 



ACAPULCO, a port in the South Sea, about 210 miles from the 

 City of Mexico, is in latitude 17° 22 N,, longitude 99° 53 W. It has one 

 of the deepest, securest, and most commodious harbours in this sea, and 

 almost the only good one on the W. coast of New Spain. The only incon- 

 venience is, that ships must enter by the sea-breeze in the day-time, and go 

 out by the land-breeze at night, which generally succeed alternately, so that 

 vessels are often blown oil' to sea, after several attempts to make the harbour. 

 The entrance is guarded by a castle. The town is ill-built, and makes a 

 poor appearance. The climate is unhealthy, especially for strangers. The 

 trade with the Philippines passed through this port. The East India com- 

 modities are carried by mules from hence to Mexico, and thence by land- 

 carriage to Vera Cruz. Within a league to the E. of Acapulco is Port 

 Marquis, a tolerable harbour. 



Trade. — There has been no direct trade between this port and England. 

 A direct traffic with India is commencing, chiefly on account of the precious 

 metals. {See the Article Manilla, in Serf ion XXVI.) Some cochineal 

 is brought for Indian consumption. Bengal and Madras cotton cloths are 

 in request. 



VERA CRUZ, in latitude 19° 5' N., longitude 96° 26 W., is a con- 

 siderable town of Mexico ; the houses built with stone and lime, the streets 

 wide, and in excellent order. The harbour is good, and might furnish 

 anchorage for 40 and even 00 ships of war, in 4 to 10 fathoms ; but the 

 N. winds are terrible, and often drive vessels on shore. Vera Cruz, as well 

 as Acapulco, is extremely unhealthy to foreigners during the rainy season, 

 from April to October. Earthquakes are frequent here. The town of 

 Vera Cruz has been nearly destroyed during the recent civil conflicts : 

 many of the inhabitants have sought shelter in the small town of Alyarado, 

 which is occasionally visited ; but the bar of its harbour is dangerous. Two 

 vessels were last year totally lost on it. 



Duties and Charges. — Cargoes from Europe pay 8| percent at the 



