Vera Cruz

Vera Cruz, the principal port of Mexico, lies on the east coast, in a low, unhealthy plain, backed by drifting sandhills, 263 miles by rail E. of the capital. There is no harbour, but only an open roadstead between the city and the island castle of San Juan de Ulua, which, with two shore batteries, defends the port. The streets are wide and straight, with numerous squares, and low, picturesque houses of various colours. The chief buildings are the cathedral, custom-house, and casino; a number of the churches have been perverted into tobacco-factories. The moist, hot climate of Vera Cruz is notoriously unhealthy, and the annual death-rate ranges from 1 in 11 to 1 in 20 of the population, mostly from lung diseases, and from yellow and other fevers. The fierce 'northers,' if they often drive vessels ashore from the exposed anchorage, at least are of use in sweeping away the fevers for a time. Most of the commerce is in the hands of foreigners; nearly 600 vessels enter and clear annually. Pop. 24,000.—The full title of the city is Villa Nueva de la Vera Cruz, or 'New City of the True Cross.' The old town was founded by Cortes in 1520 on the spot where he had landed the year before; the new one dates from 1580. The royal forces held out in the castle till November 1825. The castle capitulated to the French in 1838, and to General Scott in 1847; and during the French occupation the town was the base of supplies from 1862 to 1867.