this year, averaging ten hundred pounds per bale. The season has been very favorable for its cultivation, with the exception of some recent rains in particular districts of the province, and which, unhappily occurring during the height of the picking season, has lost several thousand bales to the province. This, however, will be somewhat balanced by the present high prices, inducing the planters to send to market the greater part of the three thousand bales generally retained for home consumption. It is generally conceded that it has been one of the best seasons we have had for several years, both as regards amount of crop and quality of staple. The following table, (No. 1,) procured from the records of the custom-house of this port, gives the best idea of the variations in amount of crop for this province, from the commencement of its cultivation in 1760 to 1860, a period of one hundred years, during some of which the crop was double of what it is this year, and in others falling off to a few bales.

The American trade has increased in general amount over previous year, the balance being greatly in our favor, as follows: Total value of trade, $168,174; of which, $138,077 were imports from, and $30,007 were exports to, the United States; showing a balance in our favor of $108,070-more than 300 per cent. The cause of this rare condition of the trade may be attributed solely to the depressed condition of the hide market in New York. Maranham has ever paid her American debts with the hides annually exported to the various ports of the United States, and almost invariably had a balance in her favor of many thousand dollars, but the last two years have shown a decided variation from the oldestablished custom.

The price of hides has varied but little between New York and this port during the last two years; upon some occasions, however, being actually lower in the former than in this market, and consequently entirely precluding the possi bility of their exportation to the accustomed market. The production for the year is about 1,400,056 pounds, all of which, with the exception of a very small quantity, has found its way to European markets, being about equally divided between England, France, and Portugal.

With regard to the different articles of import from the United States, the greatest improvement is noticeable in flour, domestics, and hardware. The importation of the first article has reached 5,455 barrels, against 3,653 for previous year, one-half being Haxall, the other Pocahontas, and various other brands. Prices ruled very high during first part of the year, at one time reaching 30$000 milreis for first quality, but at this time, owing to an overstocked market in consequence of large importations from France, England, and Portugal, caused by the prevalent idea abroad that the civil war existing in the United States would greatly diminish the amount of production and exportation of all kinds of breadstuffs. The price is merely nominal in this market, and many months will elapse before it can recover its usual tone. The American importation might be made sufficient to supply the annual consumption, which is seldom over 10,000 barrels. The stock on hand by 1st of November will reach 3,000 barrels, and by 1st of December over 4,000, which will reduce the price to 15$000 and 18$000 milreis per barrel.

The consumption of American hardware has increased from 159 cases for previous year to 235 for 1860-'61. Axes, particularly, which form the larger part of the importation, have steadily grown in favor, and will, I have no doubt, eventually be used to the exclusion of all others.

The increase in domestics has been from 197 to 305 cases, two-thirds of the importation being composed of Suffolk blue drills, the remainder of stripes and plaids of various mills. The latter found ready sale; but the importation cannot be returned during the present scarcity and value of the raw material. Agricultural implements make up part of the cargo of every American vessel arriving at this port. So many of the staple articles of production of Brazil, being identical with those of the United States, the people of this country

naturally look to us for the most efficient implements and machinery employed in their cultivation and preparation for market. Many years must elapse, however, before they can become among the leading articles of trade, for the reason of the difficulty attending a change from the old system of cultivation to a new one, such as the use of the plough involves. This is a barrier which the negro slaves of Brazil will be slow to surmount. They appear to have but little apti tude or capacity for using them, and it is only by untiring efforts and patience on the part of their masters, who are alive to the advantages to be gained, that they finally succeed.

The value of the foreign trade of this port for the financial year of 1859–’60, as returned by the custom-house department, was 5,652,256||200 milreis, equiv alent to $3,108,909 26 American currency; of the above amount, $1,727,743 44 being imports, and $1,381,165 81 exports, divided among the different nations, as shown in the following table of foreign trade.

TABLE No. 1.

Statement showing the quantity of cotton exported from the port of Maranham during a period of one hundred years, from 1760 to 1860, in bales of two hundred pounds.

TABLE No. 2.

Table showing the value of imports and exports of the port of Maranham for the financial year of 1859-'60, together with the name of the countries whence the imports are made.

Table showing the agricultural products of the province of Maranham for

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Table showing the number of arrivals and departures of vessels from the port of Maranhum during the financial year of 1859-'60, together with their nationality, tonnage, and number of crews.

Table showing the coast trade of the port of Maranham during the financial

year of 1859-'60.

PERU.

CALLAO-JOHN E. LOVEJOY, Consul.

OCTOBER 1, 1862.

In making my report to the department, in accordance with section 153 of the consular regulations, I find it very difficult to arrive at any exact conclusions as to the state of trade and commerce in this consular district, owing to the want of any complete record of the imports and exports.

The following general observations will show the rules adopted by the Peruvian government in relation to foreign vessels coming here:

Foreign vessels, on their arrival in Peru, can enter only the following ports: Iquique, Arica, Islay, Callao, Huanchaco, San José, and Paita. Should they enter any other port, the captains would be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars, and one thousand dollars in case passengers or correspondence be landed or taken on board, while the receiving or discharging of merchandise would subject the vessel to confiscation. They are prohibited from carrying on the coasting trade, but may discharge their original cargo in one or more of the above-mentioned ports, and take in Peruvian produce for export. Before communicating with the shore, they must await the visit of the captain of the port and an officer of the coast guard, to whom the master has to deliver a general manifest of his cargo or his bills of lading, and a note of provisions for ship's use. Two days are allowed to correct errors or omissions in the ports of Iquique, Callao, Huanchaco, and San José, three days in Arica and Paita, and four days in Islay. Any other errors or omissions that may appear after the time specified subject the vessel to a fine. The baggage of passengers and crew is free. Merchandise may remain in Callao and Arica for an indefinite period, but can be only three years in any other of the above-mentioned ports.

Exportation.-Vessels of any flag may load cargoes of any Peruvian produce, including the precious metals, coined or in bars.

Port dues.-Foreign vessels measuring not less than two hundred tons, according to their register, have to pay eight dollars and two reals per ton register. Weights.-Those in use are the Spanish. One quintal contains four arrobas, of twenty-five pounds each. One pound is sixteen ounces. In silver, the mark is used, which is equivalent to eight ounces. The mark of gold is divided into fifty castellanos. 100 lbs. Spanish is equal to 101 English, or 46 kilogrammes French.

Long measure. The Spanish vara in use is equal to thirty-three English inches, or 847 millimetres. Yards and metres are reduced as follows: 100 yards 108 varas; 100 metres 118 varas; 100 aunes = 81 varas. Currency. The coin current in the country is Bolivian, and for which goods are sold according to the exchange ruling on London.

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Custom-house store-rent.-Ten per cent. per one hundred dollars per month is chargeable on the bond value of the goods when despatched for home consump tion; but foreign goods taken for exports can remain one year in the customhouse stores of Arica and Callao, and six months in the other open ports, free of rent.

The imports from the United States during the last year have been very light. The reason of this, without doubt, is the interruption of trade, caused by the existing war there. Formerly large quantities of guano were shipped from here to the United States, and, as a natural consequence, large imports of various kinds of merchandise were made from there here. But since the commencement of the internal difficulties in our country the shipment of guano there has entirely ceased, and the imports from there have become very much diminished,