The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-01-01

in the Gulf of Mexico, the concen-
tration of the enemy at San Luis Po-
tosi, and the evident design of the
American army to move in the same
direction will render information
respecting the population of the va
rious towns along the coast, the face
of the country in the departments
adjoining, together with the pro-
ducts of the soil, and the distahce
between these places and San Luis
Potosi anG<hc city of McXico-ad-
ded to the character Of the several
harbors--of the highest importance,
| The increased and commendablc ac-
tiyi,y in the navy, as manifested in
the late successful expeditions a
gainst Tobasco and Tampico, will
render this information still more in
tereSting and important. Up to this
period, little or nothing is known on
the subject--thc best maps are very
imperfect, and we look in vain for
essential details through our books.
There can, indeed, be no doubt that
the absence Of such necessary data
in regard to the coast, and the vari-
Gus facilities so important to . squad
ron acting on the offensive, has been
one Of the main causes Gl the delay
/ in the movements of Commodore
I Conner, now, as we are gratilIed to
observe, about to be exchanged for
a more vigorous and energetic poll
cy. Com. Conner has shown himself
to be capable Of the most periious
enterprises, and lis skill as a sea
man was ullyproyed in the admira-
Die and rapid passage to the Drazos,
several months ago, in the course of
which be Surmounted all the Difficult
ties growing out of an unknown
| channel, and arrived in time to be
of the most essential service to Gen.
Taylor. Time, therefore, while it
may have operated to excite the
gallant spirits in the navy, frctting
under delays which they scarcely
take the trouble to understand, and
while it may have also served to in
crease tie popular anxiety at home,
has, no doubt, served also to increase
his information and to add to his ia
cilities. We may consequently look
for some of the most brilliant sue
cesscs on the part Of thc navy, in the
course Of a short time.
We began this article to say, how
ever, that we are enabled to lay be-
for our readers some of the very in
formation to which we have alluded,
as being SO universally ard anxious
~ in demand. We are indebted for
this pleasure TO gentleman who
writes Of what lie personally knows,
and who speaks Of what he has seen.
If our readers are not as much inter-
csted as we have been in his valua-
bic details and facts, we shall be
much Surprised:
Sisal and Campeachy, on the west
coast Of Iucatan, are important only
as ports Of entry for Merida and the
interior towns of Yucatan, and as
shipping points for logwood, Sisnl
grass, &c. Iuc0tan does not con-
tribute to the support Of the general
government, and has no communica-
ton with Mexico by land.
Laguna, at tie southeast bottom
Of the Gulf, has population of about
3000-iS healthy, lies on the west
end of an island, and at the mouth
Of Laguna de ternlmgs. 1t is i'm
portant TO hostile force, as a depot
and watering station, and cutting Off
communicates between Yucatan
and Mexico. llarbors, safe and
sheltered from all winds. The bar
at the mouth passable with fifteen
feet OF water. The country border
ing the various streams emptying in
to the Lagoon, is covered with for
ests of logwood, and is sparsely in
habitcd by wood-cutters, and much
cut up by water courses. 1t has an
inland communication with TabaSco,
navigab!c by steamers. The only
defence is a block house with two
guns. The harbor is at all times
accessible.
.Tabasco river empties into the
Gulf about fifty miles west OF Lagu-
ma. The mouth Of the river is pro-
tectcd by bar, shifting with gales
and river frcshcts--dcpth of water
on the bar varying from eight to ten
feet.
Frontera, a village of about 500
inhabitants, lies at the mouth of the
river.
The city of Tabasco lies about 70
miles from the mouth of the stream,
which is rapid, and can only be as
ccnded with the aia of steam or o
leading breeze. The district of To-
basco, in proper hands, would be
rich i'll agricultural products, having,
for the most part, rich strong soil.
Its chief products now are cattle,
dyc-woods, and Urge quantity of
cacao, which is highly esteemed by
| the MeXicans, and is Skinned to all