308 
GUATEMALA. 
What a people imports is always a matter of no slight 
moment in studying their social condition; and on ex¬ 
amining the classified list which I have taken from the 
official publications, one will see several very curious facts. 
First a large amount of cinnamon is imported, chiefly to 
flavor chocolate, when it might readily be raised at home, 
— indicating that the enormous duty of one hundred per 
cent does not prevent importation or stimulate home pro¬ 
duction. The same may be predicated of white wax, 
wheat, and flour, for bees flourish in the uplands, and the 
wheat is of the best quality; but mills are scarce, and pri¬ 
vate enterprise is wanting. Few printed books are im¬ 
ported ; and as the domestic publications are unimportant, 
we must infer that the Guatemaltecans are not a reading 
people. The table also gives an idea of the duties levied, 
and is worthy of attention. That the reader may see how 
little the commerce of the United States brings to Guate¬ 
mala, I have given a table of imports by countries. Nearer 
than England or France, it is still cheaper to pass her by 
and go to the distant markets. 
CLASSIFICATION OF IMPORTS BY SEA IN 1884. 
Oils (vegetable) . 
Aguardiente . 
Cotton thread and cloth 
Eirearms .... 
Shoes .... 
Cinnamon 
Carriages 
Carried forward . 
Values. 
$ 14 , 839.45 
35 , 124.70 
1 , 607 , 362.34 
1 , 758.00 
3 , 697.42 
20 , 845.00 
2 , 600.00 
$ 1 , 686 , 226.91 
Duties. 
$ 14 , 128.30 
43 , 694.75 
1 , 594 , 756.48 
2 , 435.00 
3 , 926.28 
20 , 194.45 
1 , 575.00 
$ 1 , 680 , 710.26 
on hand. Evidently the rage for old postage-stamps has a money basis, and 
this contractor expects to get a corner on old Guatemaltecan stamps; and no 
doubt he will make profit on his venture. 
