Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-14
: MA ATL AN.
FOR THE NATIONAL IsrELLIGRSoER.

In approaching the port the principal landmark is small
but very elevated island called Creston," separated
from another small island called Gomez" by channel
of few fahoms in width, the latter being only cables
length distant from the main land which us out this
point into bold rocky promontory, called Punta Cal
enadare On the side Of this bold ridge the Next
cans had casa orsmal battery and the summit
reached by precpitous zigzag read there is small
lookout" which commands a magnificent view limit
ed in its horzonby irregular range oflofty mountains
in the background and seward by the foamvcrested bill
lows Of what the old mariners to call the YER
million sea-" Vessels Of light draugh may occasionally pass
the channel either side of Gomez, but generally the
tide rushes through with great violence and the swell is
very strong the rocky shore To the west OF Creston
several small islands, the two largest of which call
Cd the old Spanish maps :" Dos Hermanos," and by
others "Isa de los Pajaros,'' (''Parrot Island and
'.Isa de los Venados," deer Island Besides these
there three high white rocks which present
striking object the yiew and the whole group is the
remarkable it is the only place the whole coast
where cluster Of islands exists. Yet these islands, like
Creson and its immediate neighbour completely
each other when approached due north, but
The bold bay formed by Creton and the Hermanos
islands formerly used by the Spanards and its roads
considered preferable in the rainy
Vessels protected there from the south and southeast
Winds which blow in squalls and they have also the adj
vantage Of being enabled to make SAIL either passing be-
the islands themselves between the islands and
the dry the prevailing winds from the north
west and to the difficulty Of landing merchandise the
beach, caused by the heavy SWELL the anchorage the
south of Creston is generally used.
After Creston has been made vessels shape their
accordingly passing little to the south to take their
chorage and the time being careful that they
not taken abaek by flaws. The most favorable position
for large vessels TO let their anchors is in front of the
channel between Creson and small elevated island call
ed Isla Venado due of il, which, together with
two other smaller isles are separated by narrow firth
from the promonory opposite the town, called I" Punta
Pedra There is good bottom, with from to twelve
tathoms water in wide berth at the anchorage desgna
ted In coming to anchor during the night it is
sary to avoid fiat rock, called the Whales Back stu
ated about mile southeast of Creston but which may be
passed very near there is from fourteen fSh
oms water all round it. Passing by Creston, bar
which extends from each point of the opposite
ries, and on which the breakers times very dam
gerou vesselscarryng fathoms enter harbor
the head of which there built many years ago
mole of rough stone which, though recently improved aud
extended, affords very few facilities for landing either
goods passengers. Indeed, difficult is the landing
on the slippery rocks that the smaller vessels and lighters
haul IN as close they with the tide where they
main stranded at low water and the goods brought
ashore by men who wade to their armpts through the
serf regardless of the sharks which, though very
and dangerous above the breakers seldom
into the inner harbor being frightened away by the
tnued uproar and spashng OF the waters The neck of
the promontory the mole is narrow and the land
depressed that the town extends quite the
ern bay but the buildings for the most part in
WEST
ern part of the town. there large fine houses
beautifully situated upon elevated banks which overlook
beach OF white sand pure to glitter in the
beams brightly if shone by the glowing light of
the monday This beach is the favorite resort of
bathers where the lover of the picturesque without
curing the punishment of the unfortunate Actaon may
often see nymphs more beautiful than Diana's virgin
train sporting in the surf riding the
waves very short distance from the Of the bay
the town is completely shut out and overlooked by two
high hills 800 feet and the other than 900
above the level of the sea- forming rugged ridge which
extends for two miles, till it abruptly terminates
the border of the bay in northwest direction Stretch
ing up east by NORTH from the mole head of the harbor
the tide OF the ocean forms estuary Of various width
and depth, which, winding round a long narrow point
passes for miles beneath the high banks an extensive
plain plateau the east of the town. and then taking
western is nearly connected by ponds and
bayous with the bay the northwestern part of the town
before described Besides the hills the west Of the
town. there number Of other eminences the north
and east. On the principal of these about a mile
and half to the northeast of the Quartet, there is
old fort the crumbng walls Of which yet remain in su
cient preservation to show that it was planned with mill
ary skill. At the base Of this hill, and in line to
stretch across from the estuary to the bay ditch
from twenty thirty feet wide and in many parts nearly
Deep partly opened many years ago. 1t was never
finished, but that which done must have cost much
labor and expense. The entertainments were thrown up
with much care, being rveed lined with brick and
as il could have been filed with from either end
and was commanded or enfladed by the works the HILL
1t would have been strong barrier against all ap-
estuary and the point Of low land which forms the eastern
limit of the town afford the best water for every where
else it is extremely brackish II is from these
that vessels supplied and indeed il chiefly here
that the Inhabitants get water by digging holes six or
ten feet Deep and men, women and children may be con-
santly seen pulling and rolling along barrels, like ants
returning in continuous unbroken line from harvest
Geld.
The port of Mszatan has only been open to foreign
commerce within few years. Its population is about
ten thousand during the rainy season. but II increases
considerably during the dry season. for then merchants
and others from the provinces States Of Chihuahua
Jaco Sonora Coluna, Snaloa and Durango come in to
purchase goods and vend the interior or domestic pro
auctions The streets of the are very irregular
There are no churches other public buildings Of any
extent preenson. The cusomhouse situated the
head Of the harbor and the Quartet citadel situated in
the upper part Of the town. very clumsy edifces built
OF adobe or burnt brick pasered with lime mortar
There are, however, many commodious built private
houses, which chiefly occupied by foreign merchants
who also have large stone houses well filed with wares
and merchandise These consist of coarse woolen and
cotton goods Of gay colors French Wines brandes, and
French and German glass; hardware, and cutlery There
are some few stores with extensive assortmentsof China
and East India goods and great profits realized at
times grapes muslns silks, and shawls Of high
price, but generally fancy goods and gcwgaws and tnse
ornaments best suit the market Mazatan was for
long time the only port north Of Guayaqui where large
vessels could procure supplies but the introduction Of
steam the Pacific and the making Of Panama, Aca-
puco and other ports depots and stopping places in
oceanic INSTRUMENTATION have taken away Mazatlans
claim priority in commercial Importance. The ebony
backwood for which the place so famous has
become very scarce, but great quantity Of c@sapina
dyewood is still brought from the interior and exported
while beef pork fowls of all kinds, and vegetables in