Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/557

Rh Custom-houses are, from time to time, inspected by visitadores, whose mission is to examine the books and accounts, investigate the acts of each office, and report as to the competency and attention to duty of the officials.

An aduana de cabotage, or some dependency of one, is at each of the ports open to coasting trade. Foreign vessels may also come to them direct for loading with lumber or live-stock. The frontier custom-houses have undergone many changes, several of then resulting from the change of sovereignty.

Early in August 1880, the government placed custom-houses on the frontier of Sonora at the places named, Quitovaquita, Sásabe, Nogales, and Palominas.

The aduanas terrestres were to be found in every place of any importance throughout the country. This system was a specialty of the colonial period, and was in every way burdensome and injurious to the country's industries; yet it has been continued down to December 1884, though every minister of the treasury had condemned it and propositions had been made in congress for its suppression.

In May 1882, a law was passed abolishing the alcabalas, or interstate duties, to take effect December