The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-06
The British Protec ssratss on the American
Comll0eats

THE MOSQUITO NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or THE
MOSQUITO KING-TRIP TO THE ISLAND or RuA-
rAN-THg PRODUCTIONS OF THE IsLAsD-rHE
GOVERNMENT SIT UP BY THE ENGLISH
BALIzs, British Honduras,) Dec 10, 1851.
Hon. VoLNEY E. HowARD:-
DEAR SiR-Yours, under date Of last March,
directed to me ct San Jasn de Nicsragua, came to
hand but short I'll since, and reached me while
at Ruatan Island; aud lot me here say, am much
obliged to you for your kind attentions.
/ now avail myself Vi the present moment to
give you shors sketch Of my ebser vatons and pc
regrinatlens In he tropics, since my second visit
nearly coming to the point Of death the second
time, at San Juan de Nicaragua. l was forced to
wind up profitable business, aad leave at once, or
lose my Ile Consequently chartered vessel.
and'in the latter part OF March We ses sail. The
island of Ruatan having been highly recommended
as . suitable point Tor ms 10 recover my health
and dispose Of my stock, concluded to give it q
trial. We took Great aud Little Corn Islands in
our route, to do some trading. From thence wo
sailed for the Mosquito shore, with the view of
trading with the naives. and touched at various
noted points, including Cape Graeios a Dias. /
however found the natives too poor TO make it
. profitable trade; but | had the satisfaction to
have my previous Opinions wlth regard to the Moss
quito Indians and government fully confirmed.
have seen something OF Indian character in the
wllds OF Texas and other parts OF the Uaited
States; but have never In my lie seen SO degraded,
indolent and miserable race Of beings as these
natives-the subjects of his Mosquito Majesty
The idea that such ra,s could resist effectuallv
the ancient ohivary OF Old Spain set up and main
tain kingdom of their own, Is too ridiculous to
think Of for moment The real fact ia, they
were too degraded and insignificant for the Span
iards to send any considerable force against them.
The whole ct tais coast was conquered by Crist0-
val de Did, acting under commission from Cor
ties, in 1923. Ii being loS, sckiy, and hot coun.
try, the Spauiaros paid bas little attention to IL.
The cupidty of the English led them to take
advantage Of these circumstances and establish
prot ectorato for the Mosquito king, who 5y.ths
bye, has recently (November) been extending his
king dom further into the State of Honduras, and
within twenty miles Of the city Of Truxillo, Of
course backed by British inluence-in fact, it is
the act OF the British ,vernment, the Mosquito
king being mere tool to effect its designs. Tho
Mesquite country abounds in valuable woods, and
| rome of the most extensive and finest forests Of
mahogany are there to be found, which are alto
gethor worked by BIRTHS capital.
On the 18th of April, we arrived at tho island Of
Ruatan, Bay of Honduras which is about thirty
mics long, by from three to five miles broad.
On nearing the island, it presents to view
most beautiful and picturesque appearance,
ranging from 400 to 800 feet above the level Of the
sea-. The island shows volcanic origin. The lands
are heavily timbered, and in the interior broken,
red and mulatto soil on the surface, possessing
common fertility. Ga the margin Of the sea there
arc generally narrow fats sad the shores stud
ded with IN It most useful Of Trees the stately and
beautiful palm.
The main lands Of Honduras are plainly in view,
the coast ranging from 70 to 30 miles OF; a. times
the atmosphere is 60 clear, that the cloud capped
mountain Congrehoy, rearing its head 500 feet
above the lsvs Of the sea- with its lesser neighbours
presents q mest grand ana i'm posing appearance.
During my short residence on the Island visited
spot celebrated by its Inhabitants the grave Of
LATTE, the pirate. He was killed in attempt to
board Spanish vessel bound irem Truxillo with
treasure, and buried at the west end Of Ruatan,
under stately cccoanat or palm tree, on which his
name, toR ether with wits esses, inscribed, and
the year Of his death-ISIS.
RuatAn fn0 harbors viz -
Port Royal, near the southeast end; Dixons Cove,
In tho centre and Coxen's Hole near the west end.
II il here where the finest fruits in all tho
West Indies grow to great perfection. The
leading staple products Of the island at pre-
sent, are plantans, bananas, pine apples, and CO.
coanuts. which find ready market in New
United States. In fact, the climate, soil, and
various localities of the island, are capable Of
growing all the different products of the tropics,
in the greatest abundance and perfection.
The island, at certain seasons Of the year, is
quite sickiy, chills and fsvers prevailing The
cause attribute more to the fact that the settlers
are constantly clearing up new plantations, thereby
exposing superabuncance Of vegetable matter to
decay than to any natural local cause II possesseA
population Of ABOUT 900 souls, principally hl asks
and english SUBJECTS from tae grand CaymaAs.
who em,gratcd TO this isiacd about thirteen years
ago uS3o) sndor the auspices of the British govern.
ment, fom which they claim and receive pro-
lection, although right the island belongs to the
State of Honduras.
vernon, OF balizs visited Ruatan, for the purpose
Of consulting and advising the inhabitants in
the Organization Of their government. Inc people
were called together In convention, to hear the
views and propositions of his Excellency In Z
speech which be made to them. and iE reply to
some enquiries about connecting themselves with
the British settlement of Belize, Honduras, he re-
naked that the continuance Of the settlement Of
Belize was quito probema tical that the treaty
with the Spanish govern nent, giving the English
rights there, had nearly expired and what the final
result would be- he osaldi not pretend to give any
satisfactory reply and that he would by iii means
recommend them to form q separate and distinct
government; and, as British subjects. it could there
be established upon permanent basis-they
voting sufficient sum to support q snpendiary
magistrate, ito be appointed by the crown, and
sent out from England.
In view Of the rights Of England to this island.
it may not be amiss 70 give here brief history el
the early discovery, settlement, and various 90,
cupants, down to the present day.
At thotime OF tho conquest 1t was well peoplsd,
but the hostii:ies IS Ainst them, first BY tho Spa
niards, and afterwards by pirates who infested
these seas, nearly destroyed or drove sway the
natives This island was discovered about the
year 1902, and remained quietly in possession ofths
attacked by an English pirate; no sufficient 70
sissance being made, Raatan was taken possessioa
Of. Itsoccupaticn was of great advantage to tina
English and Of equal injury to the Splniard, for.
enemy were enabled &c make attacks upon them
whenever they plsaaod, commanding, as it does the
Bay OF Honduras. In 1850, the Spaniards drove
the English from the island, and it was deserted
from that tims until l742, when the English took
possession OF again, and fortified it with materials
which they had carried off FROM Truxillo-thsy
maintaining possession of it until l7s0, when thsy
we're djsodged by tho Governor Of Guatemala. In
1886 they again made shomsolves masters Of it.
and stationed upon it 1000 (Caribs) negroes for it,
protection.
In 1877, Rossi, . Spanish oficor, with a small
force, rctsok the island by oaptuation, and issued
orders, which the CarioS promised to obey and then
o; sail for TIu2illo.
In 1889, it again forcibly taken possession Of
y Col Mcdonald, tho Supsrin tendent and Cover
pulled down, ard the English flag hoisted in Its
place, and the Spanish soldiers sent to Truxillo.
From that DAY unto the present, it has remained In
possession Of tho English In this last seizure q
Ruatan by the English, they have extended and
clniL ;,ract, cluatar Of haaltifu iala nda