GUAYMAS. 
479 
by the friends of the departed. These kneel by the 
graves, while the priest, with a choir of singers, goes 
from one to the other, singing as many prayers for the 
souls of the departed as the survivors choose to pay * 
for. 
Although Guaymas has one of the finest ports in 
the world, and is a key to the interior of Sonora, it 
never enjoyed much trade until within a few years. 
The recent settlement of California, has doubtless given 
to its commerce a new impulse. Several ships and brigs 
were at anchor in the harbor, while others lay at the 
wharves ; and the British steamer Driver, which is kept 
on the Pacific coast to facilitate and protect British 
commerce, makes monthly visits to this port. In 1845, 
there were exported from here only 8000 cargas of flour, 
of 300 pounds each. There are now many large and 
well filled warehouses of goods, such as would make a 
respectable appearance in one of our great commercial 
cities. Some of the retail dry-goods stores, too, are 
elegantly fitted up, and exhibit piles of the richest 
silks, satins, linens, and embroideries. I was shown by 
its owner through one of the largest establishments, and 
regretted that there was scarcely an article of American 
manufacture in the entire stock. Every thing was either 
English or French. I saw many articles which we can 
, produce of equal or better quality, and quite as low ; 
but it seems that our commerce has not yet found its 
way up the California Gulf The market is so much 
better at San Francisco, that every thing rushes there. 
As the soil in the vicinity is dry and stony, there 
are no gardens or cultivated spots in or near the town. 
Every thing comes from the interior. Maize, beans, 
