Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/201

1838.] must be aware in that city of the state of affairs here. The circumstance appeared to afford matter of great amusement to the merchants, and I suspect that the presence of the Venus saved a little vexatious conduct, had a boat from the authorities reached her.

Acapulco from its earliest days has been famed as the resort of the galleons from Manilla,—the last, I believe, having entered in 1793—4. This, of course, caused many wealthy Spaniards to settle as agents for houses in Mexico, and until the edict in 1827, requiring all old Spaniards to quit the territory, which was carried into effect in a truly bandit style by Montesdeosca, it continued to flourish.

That edict, like a blight, annihilated the germs of high breeding; the Spaniards fled, half castes stepped in to represent society, and decay has followed with rapid strides, until the place is now merely a wreck of its former opulence. Nature, indeed, has not stood idly by, but has added her full share of miseries, as a further inducement to desert this almost doomed city.

As far back as the year 1732 earthquakes of uncommon force have continued to afflict this city. It is recorded that on the 25th of February of that year a very heavy earthquake destroyed nearly the whole town: the sea rose to a great height, covering the Plaza (or about ten feet perpendicular;) the successive risings, after receding, recurring slowly at the periods of the several shocks. L2