The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-27

accl0enL
the moment brought TO hand-hard fowl, hard beef,
eggs rice, white creamy cheese, m0nteca or mantle
guiHa, a sort OF half-fomed acid butter together
with the eternal tOrtlias-tasteess cakes of maize
fosr and water, greatly priced by the natives but
very poor invention nevertheless These various
articles seemed to have pretty nearly alb
sorbed all the plates of the establishment,
for there but two or three left for the guests
TO eat of, while knives and forks, spoons and drink
ing vessels were on still more limited scale. With
true Spanish politeness, however, some of the gen.
temen at once converted their tortillas into plates
and made other clever arrangements by which they
endeav0red to force all the available conveniences on
the Padre, his sister, and mysefthe stranger Of the
party. contrived to transfer my fork to desti
tute neighbor. who had neither knife nor fork and
might az well have transferred both, for could make
no impression on the obdurate muscles OF the piece
of fowl on my plate. At last however, had re-
course the venerable institution OF fingers, and tore
asunder what could not otherwise divide and in
this style we got through our supper, wit
mark or hesitation, Just as if everything ~ re-
perfectly comma il faut This partial nad oeen
ns tire sss s life Of s 81 ordinary
ran existence Poverty will I'U feature Q, honca
nor want of opportun for WI not account Ior ~,
all ranks and lions Yen ,av o - ,' ana coT
naratiye %eS!., and some, ines also certain amount
OF hnery ana display br.t you look in vain for any
comfort in the doYestc arrangements of this coun.
try.
u We slept ri the house occupied by Dr. Holland.
Ihey haV poor notion of sleeping in Honduras.
lou re IN hammock in your clothes, or partially
nGdressed, or, worse STILL you stretch your weary
limbs ion hard, unyielding board-like, bull hide
bedstead, and wrapping yourself mp in coveret of
some sort you continue to forget till next morning.
the country; and this they call sleeping. The
fact is, the grand desderatum with people in the
tropics IN every matter appears to be to get along
with the least possible amount of exertion; but they
do
by the old proverb, Lazy folks take most palms,
Los Pledras is struggling, irregular half formed,
slovenly looking town. occupying space quite dis
proportonate to the number OF its houses; but it is
a rising place finely situated and very healthy, and
its population is stated to be more industrious than
that of the capital, which is not saying much as
well as nearly eqva in numbers, which hardly seems
probable. The population of Comayagua is va
rously estimated at from four to six and even eight
thousand In most other respects, however, there
is no comparison between the two places From the
tower of the church. or, better still from the hills
behind the tower there Is fine view Of the plains of
Comayagua.
We left Los Piedras at SON. what advanced hour
next morning, directing our coure to the village Of
, ann. dlslAHt about four league, which also Is
the stated distance hetweeo Les PiSaras al"
mayagua. The country became morersssn as we aS-
vanced the plain being chiefly COW rod Nth nraSs
cropped close by numerous heraS of cattle 1t was
as if they had been artihc' Nv laid down. The cattle
nave gogd appearance but the cows give very little
mix and the beet IS poor, BOTH doubtless, 10 a con-
sinerable eXtent, the result of imperfect manage
ment. The cows are only MIXED once day.
we had proposed, after dining at Lamani, to pro-
coed al once to Rancho Chiquita, but were advised
to delay visit till next morning, as in case of
bad weather we should find the arrangements Of the
camp by no means comfortable. We therefore de-
termined TO stay where we were.
Lamani is little village of some forty houses, de-
ghtfuly situated al one of the southern extremties Of
the plain of Comayagua. The country around is open,
with very little wood on the lew grounds, but all the
neghboring mountains are covered with pines, not
in dense forests, but lightly sprinkled over their
slopes, so that one might ride through them in all
directions The rising ground behind the village
commands the most magnificent view of the plains
have yet seen The air is pure and bracing, and
relatively COOL the country here being open to the
north and protected by lofty hills on the south.
ride Of some two leagues, mostly over rough
and PERCEPTIONS, but picturesque road, brought US
next morning to Rancho Chiquita, where we were
received with the greatest cordially by Colonel
Trantinne and his principal assistants, who happen
ed to be there in camp The remainder of the party
were surveying among the hills on each side Of the
dividing line. The southern band came in, in the
evening. Those working the north being then
near Lamani found IL more convenient TO sleep at
the village, where a house had been prepared for
them.
Our Comayagua companions left early in the day
after partaking OF some refreshments. Don Leon
and myself remained for the night. and enjoyed the
opportunity OF being again among my friends and Of
obtaining such particulars OF the survey thought
would interest the readers OF the HERALD.
Between and p. NJ. dinner was announced.
The regular arrangements OF the camp are-break-
fast at A. NJ. dinner at p. M. Nothing but work
between The time Of the year, and occasionally the
speciaies OF the work slightly modify these hours
As none II the tents were large enough 10 hold US
all, the party was necessarily subdvided At this
time of year there dining under the trees, at
one long table as al Puerto Caballos Don Lean and
myself diup1 WI al twin his asSs ants
All the arrangements, as might be expected, were
simple and rough. Our table consisted of couple Of
boxes; our seats were Just what came to hand-camp
stools, boxes aneighboring hammock, and so on; but
then we had an adequate supply of knives and forks
plates, spoons, Sc.; and our dinner, though Of the
painest kind, was reasonably well prepared With
the exception Of biscuits and groceries the materials
were such AZ the surrounding country aiforded-the
everlasting beef fowls and torllas with occasionally
few vegetables. Our sole beverage was water,
with coffee after dinner. Such Is and has been all
along the life Of the camp, occasionally improved
when supplies from the coast OF other depots
have come in in due order, but very often also much
deterorated when the means Of transport could not
keep pace with the movements Of the survey. j
should scarcely have noticed these things, which
the natural concomtants of camp life, in n new
country were IL not that ridiculous tales Of the lux
uries and extravaganza Of the camp have been in
dustrousy propagated by certain parties, and Gre
duously accepted by others here, who had every
means OF testing their truth bad they chosen 10 give
themselves that trouble.
The usual evening labors Of the camp were. on the
present occasion, suspended, IN consequence of the
rain, which, soon after dinner, came down in a
heavy thunder shower. In a few minutes the tent
was dripping in various places, and we seemed
threatened with repetition of the first nights per
formances In this locality, when there was yet no
convenience for suspending the hammocks, and
when TO use the expression OF one Of the party the
choice Of berth lay between three inches Of water
and six inches. The tents, unfortunately, are I'M
provided with flies, and though they turn ordinary
rain, they yield 10 the very heavy and prolonged
showers so common IN the rainy season. On the
present occasion, however. we escaped with slight
inconvenience. though the entire night continued
mild and damp.
The air Of Rancho Chiquito is very fresh, and the
nights, at this time Of the year. positively cold,
quiring all coverings we can muster. ! was glad 10
turn into my hammock with all my clothes on, and
with several additional barrcades besides, and by
morning did not find myself at all too warm.
The Pass Of Rancho Chiquita derives its name
from a small detached farm house or rancho which
occupies one Of the heights on its east side. The
tents Of the party, some seven in number are pitched
around this rancho which is also partially occupied,