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COMMERCE AND TOWN-BUILDING.
141

Rica of Port Bernal, with its officials and settlers, and henceforth the name of Vera Cruz became the common designation of the town.[1] Cortes wrote glowingly of its prospects, as only second in rank to the capital, and he proposed a Casa de Contratacion to promote its trade, the roads connecting it with Mexico being improved for traffic. But it found little favor with the settlers, who complained so loudly of its noxious airs, that those not possessing repartimientos near it were permitted to reside at Puebla.[2] An additional cause for the slow growth of Vera Cruz was the removal of Medellin from the interior to near the mouth of the Jamapa, four leagues south of modern Vera Cruz, where its proximity could not fail to exercise a retarding rivalry. Indeed, the former town was frequently called Medellin.[3]

Nevertheless Vera Cruz remained the entrepôt for trade, and thence after payment of duty the goods were carried to Mexico, to be announced for sale by public crier. To prevent monopoly, no person was allowed during the first ten days after the arrival of cargoes to buy more goods than were required for personal or domestic use.[4] The sales took place at the

  1. See Albornoz, Carta, in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., i. 495; Allegre, Hist. Comp. Jesus, i. 149; Herrera, dec. iii. lib. iv. cap. viii.; and Cortés, Cartas, 312-13, all speaking of the site and removal.
  2. 'Porque es sepultura de españoles y no se crian niños en ella.' It was proposed to move the town to a healthier site a league and a half below the mouth, but property holders objected. Lettre, in Ternaux-Compans, Voy., ser. ii. tom. v. 213. In 1531 most of the houses were stdl of straw, and fires were frequent, one in that year causing the loss of 15,000 ducats. Salmeron, Carta, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xiii. 198. By law of July 12, 1530, the royal officials must alternate in residing there, one at a time. Aided by the local authorities they must make the valuation of goods. Fonseca, Hist. Hacienda, v. 10. Several orders for the selection of sites, the construction of defences, and other measures for towns, are given in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xxiii. 362-5; Zamora, Bib. Leg. Ult., iii. 30.
  3. Cortés leaves the impression that Medellin was moved to Vera Cruz, Cartas, 313; but the statements of Albornoz and later developments show the contrary. Jamapa appears to have been called also Rio Chalchiuhcuecan. Oviedo, iii. 427. Hood, 1592, writes on his map R. de Medelin; Ogilby, 1671, has R. Medelin.
  4. Five days was the limit for provisions, and 10 for other effects, after which traders could buy freely. Libro de Cabildo, MS., November 4, 1524. An early regulation had prohibited traders from buying goods till 30 days after their arrival on the market.