ACAPULCO, the second sea-port town in the Mexi can empire, situated on a bay of the Pacific Ocean, at the distance of 240 miles south of Mexico. The town itself is very inconsiderable, being composed of only two or three hundred thatched and ill-built houses : but the harbour is large and commodious, and is callable of con taining he hundred ships. The harbour is secured by a small island, lying at its entrance, which is encircled by lofty mountains, forming two inlets of sufficient depth for the largest vessels; but, as all vessels must enter it by a sea-breeze in the day time, and clear out by a land breeze in the night, they arc often driven of to sea, af ter many fruitless attempts to make the harbour. The castle of St Diego, situated on a promontory, at a small distance from the town, guards the harbour with Si pieces of cannon, the greater part of which are 24 pound ers. The climate of Acapulco is damp and sultry ; the country is exposed to frequent earthquakes: and as the town is encircled with a volcanic mountain, the atmos phere is always thick and unhealthy. In the rainy sea son, the south-east winds are extremely destructive ; while the salubrious north winds of the eastern coast are totally unknown. Hence the Spanish families re tire to a distance from the coast, when business does not require their attendance ; and the town is inhabited only by 400 families of mulattoes, negroes, and Chinese, or people from the Philippine Isles. The trade of Aca
pulco is carried on chiefly with the Philippines and Peru. When the Chinese ship, the name given by the Spanish writers to the galleon from Manilla, in the Philippine isles, arrives at Acapulco, the merchants from Mexi co, Peru, and even Chili, hasten thither to receive and exchange their commodities; and erect tents in the vi cinity of the town, so as to form a large encampment. The Manilla galleon arrives annually, loaded with all the treasures of the East, consisting of gold-works, mus lins, printed linens, silks, perfumes, and precious stones ; which are exchanged to the Mexican traders, for cochi neal, European toys, and about half a million sterling. Though there is a considerable number of cattle and sheep, yet provisions are very scarce ; and the city de pends on a supply from the Indians. The governor of Acapulco has the title of lieutenant-general of the Coast of the South Sea; and commands three companies of militia, the Chinese, the Mulatto, and the Negro. The surrounding country produces cotton, maize, pot-herbs, fruits, and some tobacco. About three miles to the east of Acapulco, is an excellent harbour. called Port-Marquis, to which the ships from Peru generally carry their con traband goods. Acapulco was taken and plundered by sir Francis Drake in 1580. W. Long. 100° 41'. N. Lat 17° 5'. (0) ACARA, The trivial names of fish