The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-01-01
OTTAWA, ILLINOIS, FRIDAY, JAN. 1, 1847.


basco and Alvarado, except at the
mouth of the river Huasaculco,
which may be entered by boats draw
ing A feet, and is worthy of notice,
as being Of the contemplated lines
of canal communication with the Pa
cilic ocean.
Alvarado is about eco miles west
Of Tabasco, and about 40 s. +, OF
Vera Cruz. At the mouth Of the
river is a shifting bar over which the
water varies from TO 10 feet. AZ
ter crossing this, there is plenty oil
water. The waters are navigable
through lagoon s. l.. of the city, 10
Joluca, town of 1900 souls, about
40 to 90 miles from the bar. The
town of Alvarado lies about miles
from the bar, contains population
of about 500, and is defended by the
difficulty Of approaching it over the
bar, and recently erected fort; bat
IN the summer season, they would
prove but poor defcnces, as, in calm
weather, a hostile force could be
landed under the guns of ships OF
war, which could approach quite
near to the beach) and the works
and the town could be taken from
the rear. During the revolution,
whilst the Castle Of San Juan dc
UlIoa was in possession of the for
ces Of Spain, Alvarado became the
chief port of entry on the Gulf, and
most of tie imports and exports were
through ii, as it has the advantage
Of an easy and safe road to the intc-
rior, and it is 10y this route an inva-
ding army would encounter the few
est natural obstacles in marching to
the city Of Mexico, the country be-
ing equal to the sustancc of an army,
with abundance Of wafer, and no
strong points for defence. TIE
cruising ground of Alyarado is cx-
ceedingly pcrilous during the winter
months, where the northers blow
with extreme violence. Products
cattle and cochineal.
Anton Lizardo, (whcrc our squad
ron has been anchored, 80 miles n.
W. of Alvarado, and 10 miles s. T..
from Vera Cruz, is one of the very
best harbors on the gulf, being &C
ccsslble at all times, and protected
from the swell of the sea by coral
reefs and sand islands. No town
here, only few fishing huts.
Vera Cruz, with its dcrrnces, and
now imprcgnablc castle, is too well
known TO require particular notice
here. The terrible San Juan dc u
Ioa prote cts the town, and the road
to the city Of Mexico is dcrensible in
so many points, especially at Pucnte
del Rry, (where few brave men
could hold an army in check that
an attempt to reach the city Of Mex
leo by its route would be QuiXotic.
Population Of Vera Cruz, variously
estimated at from $4,000 to 10000
souls. 1t is the chief port on the
Gulf.
About so miles n. W. Of Vera
Cruz, is the small port Of Tecoiuila,
and near to it Boca de Lima, both of
which can only be entered by small
crafts and boats. No good ANCHOR
age. In this district ere cultivated
the Vanilla bean and Jula2, also the
Irigoli, a large black bean, which is
a favoritc article of consumption
with the Mcxicans.
Tuspan lies 20 miles n. W. from
Vera Cruz, and 20 miles S. T.. from
Tampico, and is memorable from the
loss upon It's bar of the United States
brig IruXton. The town has no ar
tihcial deicncrs, being sufficiently
protected by the bar at tic mouth of
the river, which is inaccessible to
vessels drawing over feet. P0pu-
lation said TO be about 1000. 1t
has an inland water communication.
almost to 'rampico, celebrated for its
shrimp fishery. 1t communicates
with the city of Mexico and interior
towns by the road from Tampico.-
The country abounds with cattle.
Tampico river cmptirs INTO the
Gulf about 200 miles northwest Of
Vera Cruz, The entrance is pro-
tcctcd by dangerous bar. which is
constantly shifting, and a small tenn
porary fort; the old fort, which stood
at the mouth Of the river, has been
literally wasted away by the swell
Of the sea, sent in by nortacrs. For
months at time there will not be
over tx fee; Of water on the bar.
while shift, produced by a single
northcr, will probably leave a chan
mel for vessels Of fifteen feet draught.
! here is no protection whatever from
the north winds outside the bar, ard
it is not safe to lie of long at time
during the season of northcrS, which
are often as sudden as terrible.
The town stands about five miles
from the bar, contains Il population
Of about 5000, has no military de-
fences, and the authorities will not
,,yn ,n,. ,nn-, e., 80, 4 -