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652 melancholy and deserted, most of the lower orders being occupied in their own houses, where they exercise various trades in a small way, as in San Luis. They are good blacksmiths, carpenters, silversmiths, and hatters, and are famous for their skill in working leather, as well as in manufacturing a sort of porous earthenware, with which they supply not only all Mexico, but the neighbouring States upon the Pacific. This is made partly in Guadalajara, and partly in the two villages of San Pedro and Tŏnālă, where the inhabitants have no other occupation. Rebozas and Tapalos, (shawls of striped calico, much used by the lower orders,) are made in considerable quantities; as were formerly Mantas (blankets); but this branch of trade, after suffering much in 1812, when the port of San Blas was opened by General Cruz, has been destroyed entirely by the late importations from the United States, smuggled in through Tampico, Soto la Marina, and Refugio, on the Eastern coast.

Guadalajara derives at present little or no advantage from its foreign trade, San Blas being nearly abandoned as a port, in consequence of its natural inferiority to Măzătlān and Gūāymăs, as well as of the vexatious conduct of the Custom-house officers there; upon which subject I have already given all necessary details in Section V. Book III.

Foreign goods are introduced overland from San Luis or Mexico. There is but one foreign mercantile house in the capital, (that of Mr. Ritchie,) and