Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/439

Rh in everything the tool of his wily and avaricious counsellor.

Yucatan had not been neglected. Not only had troops been provided for her defence as early as 1645, but in 1672 forts were ordered by the king to be built, and garrisons placed in them. In 1690 the wall around Campeche had been in process of construction for several years. Early in the year thirty pieces of artillery of various calibres were mounted thereon. The forts of Campeche were begun in 1692 and finished in 1769. Eight castles were successively erected. Spain at first furnished fifty-six poor pieces of iron of small calibre; but in 1739 and 1740 eighty-eight pieces of large size were sent, part of brass and part of iron. The citadel of San Benito in Mérida had five small bulwarks on an artificial hill commanding the whole town. The artillery consisted of old 18-pounders.

In the island of Tris in the laguna de Términos was established a presidio for which a regulation was issued in 1791. It had a governor commanding the forces. In Tabasco was built in 1683 the castle of Santiago, which was garrisoned with a paid infantry company. Acapulco, the chief Mexican port on the Pacific, was considered in 1642 sufficiently defended with its fortifications and garrison.