The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-02-18
OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT INVADES
AN ANCIENT, ANTIQUE NEXI-
GAN CITY.
THE FINEST HARBOK ON THE
PACIFIC.
VIELD FOR ESTRRrRIsIsG YAsKEEs.
Miiiions Of Geld and Silver ia the vIeiHI-
ty.--FniHTe Port OF American Aus-
trallan Trnde.

GUYaAs, MEXICO, January, 1881.
Editor Democrat
This quaint old town in Sonora, Mex
leo, IL located on the east shore Of the
Gulf of California md has harbor,
land.lOcked and gheltercd from the gea
with approaches through channels be
tween the Islands Of Pajo.as, San vi
cente, Pitayas and Cochori. The odd
and distinctive features Of this strange
old town are so peculiar that / have
been tempted to give your readers some
idea OF its location, its future possibiii.
ties, and something Of the ante dcluvian
habits Of this city Of six thousand souls.
i came down from Frisco on very
comfortable coastwisc steamer which
touches here about once a month, carry
ing few passenger and light cargo
Of goods. We anchored one bright
morning in the harbor, and while we
were preparing TO go ashore ! took in
the wild aud romantic surroundings Of
this port, 10 soon TO become great
commercial entrcpo. in the American
Australian trade
Lazy Yaqui Indians were plying
their vocation on every hand, catching
fish of many varieties OF taking crabs,
shrimps, Holsters and oysters that hre
found in great a5undaLcc.
THE Towg or GUAYMAs
nestles at the north end Of its quiet
and secure harbor, surrounded on three
sides 10y high bluTy mountains. The
opening into the ocean between two
high, rugged cliffs, is about five miles
from the city, and within this strait
the bay widcns 40 as TO furnish what
haA been we'll termed the most secure
harbof on the Pacific About half a
mile frOu the town an island divides
the inner ftcm th,, outer harbor, and it
, u al this i.lanl that the southwestern
terminus OF tho great Atchiuson. Tspe-
kA snd Santa Fc is located. Here are
the immense wharves and unlimited
'iockase, here tue heaviest men-of- war
can anchor in safety. Beyond the
island, laHdward, the water Is much
Shsllower, tho average depth heing but
about nine feet, while on the aeaward
side there il a depth averaging thirty
feet, Ihe railroad reaches it's terminus
by long bridge from the eastern sho .
and will be able TO
TRANSPORT FREIGHT To Tns STEAMER
DIRECT.
After some little delay as the custom
house, we walked over to the "Ameri-
can Hotel" and | anu free to say that
it is the oddost looking building in the
| world enjoying that universal name a
low, square, adobe building, surround
ing court or placita. It's mud floors
and small window ws and low ceilings are
striking novelties. After lunch my
friend and | saunterel through the
town, which carries the Mexican stamp
upon its face. The buildings are all Of
adobe, built one story high, aNd better
al class than those In New Mexico.
In fact, some of them were highly orna-
mental. AS we neared the public
square, or plaza, we found gay scene
awaiting US, The native band from
the garrison were playing medley OF
Spanish airs, and the plaza was filled
with ladies, young and old, in gay cos
tunes, who promenaded without cs-
corts, their natural protectors standing
outside of the circle and bowing here
and shere as they recognized acquaint
ances. 1t was very pretty sight tc
an American amused to such scenes. |
found, upon becoming better acquaint-
ed, that