Page:Guatimala or the United Provinces of Central America in 1827-8.pdf/218

Rh Of the other productions of the country no better accounts can be had. The cultivation of Cochineal, which was unknown till the year 1821, has been progressively on the increase. The official papers of government, calculate the annual harvest at from 90 to 105 thousand pounds weight, but this undoubtedly is somewhat overrated; the harvest of 1824 is estimated by well informed individuals, at 70,000 pounds, that of 1825, at 65,000 pounds, and that of 1826, at near 90,000 pounds.

Tobacco is a government monopoly, and consequently the weight produced must he known with tolerable correctness; leaving out of the calculation the immense quantities which are sown clandestinely. To such an extent is this carried on, that not one half of the consumers buy of the government, contraband being always to be met with, without the least difficulty. Official papers merely inform us, that from the province of San Salvador, there have been years when only 3000 bales, or 30,000 pounds have been received, while in other years 6 and 7000 bales, or 70,000 pounds have been collected; that Honduras produces from 8 to 10,000 bales, or 80 to 100,000 pounds, and that a new factory has just been planted in Gualan, which it is hoped will prove very advantageous on account of the facility for exportation.