leaves only a narrow outlet towards the gulf. The town did not exist before the Revolution. It now contains 3000 inhabitants, and 300 houses; some of which are in the modern style, and handsomely built. In 1824, when there was no custom-house in Sonora, twenty-eight vessels were lying in the port of Guaymas at one time, whose cargoes were of course introduced duty free.
The imports consist in Chinese, East Indian and European manufactures, brandy, paper, refined-sugar, cacao, coffee, and tea, &c. &c.; and the exports, in wheat, flour, beef, hides, furs, copper, silver, and gold.
The heat in summer is very great, yet the town is healthy, and neither the Vomito, nor the Cholera Morbus are known: the most serious inconvenience experienced by the inhabitants is the want of water, which is brought from wells three miles inland.
From Măzătlān to Guaymas the navigation is neither intricate nor dangerous: there is much shoal water upon the Sonora coast, but that of Old California is bold and lofty, with deep water close in shore; and the islands, of which there are several in the gulf, are all high land, and visible at a considerable distance. There is, therefore, reason to suppose that, when the population of Sonora increases, as I am convinced that it speedily must, Guaymas will become the principal commercial depôt upon the Western Coast of New Spain; being much superior as a port both to Mazatlan,
