SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. 501 
to enjoy the fresh sea air which a westerly breeze 
brought in. East of this, a bay makes up, and adjoin- 
ing it is a marsh, where large numbers of small fish are 
left ; these, becoming putrid under a tropical sun, help 
to engender the fevers which at certain seasons prevail 
here. Bilious cholera morbus is also common ; and the' 
Mexicans from the interior, as well as the numerous 
Americans who now stop here on their way to Califor- 
nia, fall victims to these diseases. But these are not 
all the troubles of the Acapulcans : earthquakes and 
hurricanes often occur ; the dry and burning atmos- 
phere is almost insupportable ; while noxious insects 
and reptiles infest dwellings or assail the inhabitants 
wherever they go. Baron Humboldt, who spent some 
time at Acapulco, and who has investigated the cli- 
matic influences of tropical America more than any 
other writer, does not hesitate to give his- opinion, as 
the result of a comparison, that “ the heat is more op- 
pressive, the air more stagnant, and the existence of 
man more painful at Acapulco, than at Yera Cruz.”^' 
The town stands on a narrow strip of land less than 
half a mile in width, on which there is but little soil. 
The houses are built of stone as well as of adobe, and 
covered with red tiles. Those of the better class, are 
whitewashed, and have a neat appearance ; many have 
little niches in their walls, in which is placed a crucifix 
or image, in honor of some saint. I noticed many 
houses in a state of dilapidation : there is also an old 
ruined church, its walls and tower still standing, which 
is said to have been destroyed by an earthquake. A 
* Political Essay on New Spain. Vol. IV. p. 145. 
