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1839.]
MAZATLAN.
341

obtain naturally; having found artificial increase of temperature involved hygrometric affections, probably more detrimental to the results obtained than any customary atmospheric variations. As I intended paying a visit to my friend Mr. Barron, at Tepic, I should there have an opportunity of a considerably lower temperature than I could otherwise obtain, and the observations would be further interesting from their height of three thousand feet above the sea level. Our chain of meridian distances from the Columbia, and ports interjacent up to San Blas and this point, were satisfactorily connected.

The quantity of stores embarked amounting to more than twelve months for one hundred and thirty-six men, for the two vessels, independent of our remaining stock, it became necessary to stow the lower deck to the beams, and berth our crew on the maindeck.

On the 4th December, we quitted Mazatlan, having experienced great attention from the resident merchants. The conduct of Messrs. Kayser, Hayn, and Co., in having charged themselves with the entire transhipping our stores, &c., and making the necessary arrangements with the officers of the Custom-house, and refusing commission for the enormous trouble, is beyond all praise, and I sincerely trust that the government have repaid them by more than words.

The conduct of the Custom-house authorities also was very similar to that of Guayaquil; the