New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-23
Central America- Its + Population and state Of
Education.

The following extract fir n Dunlaps Central
America" published in London in ls47, will be
read with interest, as the above work is one Of
the latest and most reliable sources OF information
as to the above interesting country;
1.-THE native population Of Central America
may be said consist OF six distinct races, which,
however have been intermixed TO so great an
extent that their derivation cannot often be traced.
Es"Frst; May be classed the white descendants
Of Spanish coonists
"SecOnd; The mestzo descendants oil Span
iards and Indians.
"Thtyd: The mulatto descendants of Spanards
and negroes.
"Foarth: The zambo descendants of Indians
and negroes
Fifth: The native or indigenous Indian.
"S1rth: The African negro.
In all the States except Costa Rica the sec.
and and fifth classes are much the most numerous.
The State of Guatemala is said 10 contain about
100000 of inhabitants, the Indians of whom
probably amount TO 100000. the mestzoes to
$50 co., The whites in New and Old Guatemala
NAV amount TO 1000 or 5000, but in other parts Of
the State not above 90 or 30 will be found in the
largest towns, and | do not suppose that their
total number exceeds 1000 or 5000.
"In San Salvador, supposed 10 contain $4,000
inhabitants, the number Of whites does not appear
10 exceed 1900 or 1000, as they are only found in
the principal towns of the State of the rest about
two.thirds would appear TO be mestizoes and In
digenous Indians, the number Of the other classes
being very trihing Honduras is said to contain
population of 100000; Of these there may from
1000 to 5000 whites, and 20 600 to 10000 negroes,
2amboes and muattoes, on the northeast coast
only. the remainder consisting OF about one nail
mestizoes and one half indigenous Indians
ain Nicaragua, the population OF which is esti-
mated az 100000 there may be 1000 or 1000
whites. and 5000 or 5000 Of negro blood In the
ports; of the remaining population about third
are mestizoes and two thirds indigenous Indians;
"In Costa Rica, the population OF when Is rsseo
or 600 at least 20 900 are whites, the remainder
Consisting of few negroes near the port oil Ma,
tina, on the northeast coast, and mestzoes ano
their descendants who have come from the o.ner
States | have not noticed single pure inu'sn.
"Of the foreigners, the natives OF SPAN are oy
far the most numerous, being generaly em eanss
from Andalusia and Marcia, either OF the 'o"er
nIo..a. - desnerate adventures who have been
mined in their own country and come 70 Centrh
America 10 push their fortunes IN any manner
Tnlo,tnnateiv they form the great Dulk Oh inc
commercial class, excepting .'' Po''J uoue.'
end have a character decldediy worse Ia All ie
spects than the same class among the n1' ,, e..
~ ~, ,hink there are a sozen English IN al zen,
~. Aosr;cs there may be 80 or 40 Frencn, su
rranv Germans, and 20 or 80 oil al osnoi . vi.
- excepting the Belgians, "ho' s'noo 'no
sisS.,;on Of the Colony Of e. Thomas, are mucn
s'aro numerous in the State OF oua.enaa
more ;gnorance. vice and superstition prevail
in1 ceS1tvai America are probably hardly to be
.ng in any other part Of the world unless i
elusbe he in The interior Of Africa or the East India
Tai.DSs In the towns not one in ten can read or
wr;re. and in many parts Of the country not one
IN thoUsand In many villages containing SONG
thousand inhabitants, TO person Is 70 DC iogn9
Tho can read. and when a traveller is compelled
to show bis passport to the Alcade, who 10 the
6yst civil and criminal Judge, be Is generaly re-
ouested 10 read il. Morality is at the lowest eoo
among ali classes, especially the whites ana Gre,
oles indeed could never find that anon ~ cr;~s
any disgrace was attached TO any $50, io eorrsry
and .wipeiiSg Of all sogs, are considered IS qa''e
yenial"