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 MATAMOROS MATANZAS 2T1 and the houses are mostly of brick and built after the American style. Churches and con- vents are numerous; and there are several public and private schools. In fair weather good-sized vessels are towed up to the town ; while at other times the entrance to the river, obstructed by sand bars, is difficult and often impossible even for schooners. The climate is extremely hot from April to September, with violent south winds, while from December to March, in the season of the northers, it is very cold, often with much snow. Although con- sidered to be one of the most unhealthy places in Tamaulipas, Matamoros is the only gulf port exempt from yellow fever. Specie, hides, wool, and horses are the principal exports ; cotton, linen, woollen, and silk fabrics, and machinery are imported, mainly from the United States and Great Britain. Matamoros was founded toward the commencement of the present century. The Americans under Gen. Taylor occupied the town in May, 1846, after the victories at Palo Alto and Eesaca de la Palma. The people are mainly of Span- ish descent; but there are many American residents, and English is almost as commonly spoken as Spanish. MATAMOROS, Mariano, a Mexican patriot, ex- ecuted at Valladolid, Feb. 13, 1814. The time and place of his birth and the circumstances of his early life are unknown. In Decem- ber, 1811, he was parish priest of Jantelolco, a small village south of Mexico, when, being molested by royalist troops and threatened with imprisonment, he fled to Izucar and joined the insurgents. He was favorably received by Morelos, and at once made a colonel. In that capacity he speedily acquired influence and popularity among the troops, and displayed great military talent. In the defence of Cuau- tla against Gen. Calleja, the glory attributed to Morelos was largely due to Matamoros. In the expedition to Oajaca he took a conspic- uous part, and in October, 1813, won the victory of San Agustin del Palmar. The Mexican revolution was now triumphant from Guatemala to Jalisco, except in a few of the larger cities, when Morelos injudiciously re- solved to attack the capital of Michoacan. Ee- pulsed from Valladolid, Matamoros collected his forces at Puruaran, where Morelos again rashly precipitated an action fatal to the cause of independence. Matamoros was captured and executed. Alaman in his history describes Matamoros as the most active and successful leader of the insurrection, and ascribes its tem- porary failure to his death. His memory is highly honored by the Mexicans; his bones were placed with those of Hidalgo and Morelos in the cathedral of Mexico, and his name has been given to two important towns, as well as to districts in several states. MATANZAS, a fortified seaport of Cuba, on the San Juan river, here crossed by a bridge, and Matanzas. at the head of a beautiful bay of the same name, 53 m. E. of Havana ; pop. about 30,000, a considerable decrease since 1868, attributable to the large numbers who emigrated after the outbreak of the revolution in the island. The town stands on a gentle slope toward the river ; the streets are wide, regular, well kept, and lighted with gas; and the houses, chiefly of stone, are solidly built, and in the same style as those of Havana. The handsomest of the public squares is the plaza de Armas, where military bands attend every evening, and the walks are crowded with fashionable prome- 639 VOL. XL 18 naders. There are two churches, a castle, fine barracks, a hospital, a good theatre, and a cock- pit ; and among the schools, which are propor- tionately more numerous here than in any other Cuban town, is the Empresa academy, one of the best educational establishments in the West Indies. The harbor is spacious, easy of access, and well sheltered, save to the northeast ; and the surrounding country, comprising the rich- est portion of the island, is covered with mag- nificent sugar estates. The climate, though hot, is more salubrious than that of Havana. The principal exports are sugar, molasses, and a