Page:Guatimala or the United Provinces of Central America in 1827-8.pdf/220

Rh In the papers before referred to, the article of cotton is thus noticed: “The cotton of Usulatan, and the rest of the provinces of San Salvador, is superior in quality, and was formerly collected in considerable quantities, supplying sufficient for at least half the consumption of all the old manufactories of the kingdom, beside exporting some to the provinces of Mexico; but in the present day, scarcely any is produced, owing to the quantities of manufactured cottons which have been introduced from foreign countries. It might have been shipped in considerable quantities by the Pacific; but unfortunately these ports have been ruined, by the introduction of goods by the north.”

Here again the same ignorance displays itself; in official statements. If it be true that the cotton is of so superior a quality why is it not still cultivated and exported, since at least three times the number of vessels requisite for its conveyance still come to the ports of the Pacific, notwithstanding their supposed ruin, owing to the introduction of goods by the north. The memorial before quoted, which it should be borne in mind was sanctioned and approved by the Chamber of Commerce, speaking of the ports of the north, says: “In the present day, with the exception of Omoa, these ports may be said to be abandoned.” The fact is, that the cotton of Usulatan, although of good quality, has some peculiarity about the