The New York herald., 1851-10-18
THE ISLAND OF RUATAN.
A Statistical Account and Description OF
the Island.

in that part of the Gulf Of Mexico known as the
Bay Of Honduras, was written by Captain Mitchell
of the British Navy, and published in recent num-
Der of the British United Service Journal. Capt.
Mitchell visited the Island in furtherance Of British
designs upon it, and his account in many respects is
81 yrte and unfair bat far it relates to its re-
sources and port ance, generally accurate. hiss
torca sketch of the island and of its seizures
in conjunction with the islands of Banaca, Utica
&c.. is given in editorial article in another part
Of this days paper, to which public attention is
directed
A STATISTICAL ACCOUNT AND DESCRIPTION OF THE
ISLAND OF RUATAN.
BY COMMANDER C. MITCHELL,
n. 8 sAPPHo
The island Of Ruatan is situated about thirty
miles from the main land of Spanish Honduras
and its western extremity is in lat. l6e IL, N,
long So 39 w 1t lies in an + n Z. and w. s.
w. direction; its length about twenty-seven miles,
with an average breadth of two and half miles
There is little waste land omit, and the whole might
| be advantageously cultivated.
Limestone is the principal formation of the island;
| there also sandstone and quartz and great
deal of coral on the lower parts The island seems
originally have been elevated by volcanic erup
ton, and the lower portions washed up by the sue
cessive action Of the sea. On the coral formations
sand has been hove up; then decayed vegetable
matter and seeds, drted or brought by birds from
the continent and surrounding lands These spring
| irg up and decaying have assisted ana formed a
fruitful soil, on which man has at length lande L.
erected his dwelling, and has found the laad sub
! seryient 10 his wants These remarks applica
BILE to the lower portions of the island. have not
heard of any minerals having been collected on the
| island.
| The island has sngularly beautiful appearance
| at a distance, as you approach II In ship. The
mountains rise in a gradual height to the summit
OF SOC feet, and they seem successfully TO follow
each other, intersected by valleys tho whole thick
| ly AMI most luxuriantly wooded. As you draw
| near to it you discover that palm and cocoanu5
trees encirce the shores and forest trees of vacou
descriptions grow on the higher hills. Tne natural
| beauty of its appearance is greatly enhanced when
! you cast anchor in one of its many harbors on the
/ southern side.
In the valleys alluvial deposits and decayed vege
table matter form the soil, which is exceedingly
rich and deep. On the mountains and their de ,lv-
I ties red clay or mari predominates.
A great deal of good and useful timber was found
spontaneously growing on the island, such as Santa
Maria wood, extensively used for ship building;
three varieties of oak, cedar, Spanish elm, and
lsncewood, and the shores of the island lined
and surrounded with groves Of cocoanut trees; a
tree which in administering to the wants OF man Is
hardly surpassed IL tropical reg ons. The seed of
this tree in remote times has been probably drifted
! here, and they have sprung up in abundance on a
sandy and low shore, which is found 80 congenial to
\ their growth
At present, the island produces in abundance
nuts, plantains, yams, bananas, pineapples,
&C., Sc; but feel convinced that breadfruit, Eu-
ropean vegetables, and indeed many fruits vegeta-
bles, and productions OF more temperate regions,
would grow here.
The Country is capable of raising all tropical pro-
ductions, such as sugar coffee, tobacco, &c, which
might become staple comm ODDITIES Of export.
There found on the Island previous to It's be-
ing inhabited great quantity of deer, wild hogs,
Indian rabbits, parrots, pigeons, birds of various
descriptions, sc. Some years ago, previous to its
settlement, men from small vessels and fishing
boats, employed the surrounding coasts, origin
ally resorted TO this island for the purpose of sup
plying themselves with game and stock.
A great quantity Of domestic animals, such as
poultry, pigs, Sc raised; cattle might be raised,
but the Inhabitants have not ye, the means of
keeping them from destroying their plantations.
1t seems probable the island at some remote pc
riod thickly inhabited by the Indian race. In
clearing away the land for plantations, many domes
/ tic and culinary utensils have been found. There
is atTsditon tha, the Spanards (in accordance With
their system Of cruolty), on their hrst discovery Of
America, der populated the island; they seized upon
the sborgines, and took them to the coninent to
work in the mines, whence they never returned.
! great deal Of rain falls 10 the winter months
from September to February This has the eject
Of cooling tue air beyond what is felt in the other
parts Of the West Indies, and the breeze tempers
the influence Of the sun. II the people could keep
must not only be exceedingly agreeable, but singu
laTy pure and healthy. The dry mouths are
much wainer; the natives, however, do not COM
plain OF the heats they aver that l. is the healthier
portion Of the year. The Thermometer since we
have been here Canuary) has averaged So o.
Fahrenheit.
D.
low fever or sgue, the latter probably arises from
the land not beng suficieatly cleared away, and n
luxurisnt and decaying vegetatiOn the former from
constant damp AMI exposure. CT should think
only healthy TO those born in warm ATTITUDES but
that Europeans, with proper precautions, might
enjoy not only health, but live TO good old age.
INHABTANTs.
The population Of the island is now stinated at
1000 or 700. In 1873 il was only eighty. IL has
gone on steadily and rapidly inc ,easing, and there
are at present three births to one death. With the
means Of existence at hand, and almost prepared
for them, the young people have a disposition to
marry at an early age; their families are large,
many consisting OF Line to ten, and even more,
children. They seem 20 be proof Of what has
been often asse ted in civilized countries, tha. a
diet Of vegetables and Gsh, OF What is usually
termed scanty food, il favorable 70 population.
The population is scattered 10 different parts
along the whole sea-shore OF the island from obvi-
Gus reasons they find these localities mere conven-
lent than the interior. They here erect their
dwellings, In The midst Of their palm and paintan
groves, having their little vessels and fishing bosts
in quiet and rtetered hooks; and convey their pro-
ducc and seek for their wants by water carriage.
At Coxcn Hole, or Port Moboaall, the greatest
number seem located there are here perhaps 5Ol.
IL is safe and sheltered hartOr. yet chance seems
70 have directed them IN The drtt instance 10 this
sTot. a. ] am inclined to believe from my limited
observation, there are other places more eligible
fer a township.
hbcrsted tlaves from the Grand Cayman, and a
mall portion Of The inhabitants are cjorcd people,
also natives Of that island, and formerly slave
owners These latter people seem e. be tee m 80
vfttCfcd on the Island; unaccustomed b labor ani
bayit lost their property and their slaves, o.
fquaLtCfcd away What thsy obtained for them.
tEcy had 70 longer any means Of existence. From
false feeling 81 Pride 30 universal ia man. and
itun1 alike IN ~ countries, they unsiiling TO
labor IN a small isand where they were once re-
gsrdej with comparative consequence, and they
On grated anf sought their fortunes on the IN
IeCricd shores q Ruatan The slaves who had
0bisirod their freedom. but could not procure la
bor in mall island, iko tie Grand Cayman,
hearing Of thc success Of thtr former masters fol-
!0scd IN their f00tsteps.
The DARK population. o' those who we're formerly
savcs. frem their physical powers and their habits
OF lobor from childhood, soon surpassed the white
population 10 The accumulation of the means Of ex-