New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-22
BRITISH HONDURAS.
Correspondence Of The ". z. Tribune

have made an excursion Of two days pandi'"s
up the Belize River Downward the current
brought us in one day. The course Of the river is
exceedingly crooked so that the farthest point Oh
my little trip, which is known by the name VI
Bakers can be reached on horseback IN SIX VI
seven hours-the land road, which runs on the
northern side Of the river, cutting of many oil It's
bends.
Mr.. Travis, Of the firm Of James Hyde d Co.,
one of the principal mahogany houses OF Behze-a
gentleman to whom | am much indebted Tor his
polite attentions dnring my stay-had provided me
with his pitpan long boat cut out OF the trunk o
a tree, with an awning under which we were Wen
protected against the SUM- and felt entirely cemiort
able -,
Tie Belize River emptes by two channels which
separate at place called the HaulOver, where the
old piratical settlement of Wallace, and aiter"dri
the seat of the government OF what Is now caAed
British Honduras, was originally situated, ana re-
manned 70 until il was removed TO the outlet OF Inc
southern channel, where the present town STANDS
along the sea-shOre, on both sides connected py
wooden bridge much in need OF repair. ms SOUTH
ern branch OF the river-mOuth may be six or seven
miles long, forming Il narrow passage through
thicket of maDgrOyes. The northern channel,
which carries out by far the greater portion OF water
is wider and shorter, and i'll that direction the sea
is seen from the Eauover at short distance. From
there upward to place called the Boom, where the
river is artifcially narrowed and shut by an iron
chain for the purpose Of arresting the mahogany
flooded down from the upper cuttings, the stream
has a respectable appearance, and might be nayl-
gated by steamboats,, though / think that, at an
average it may carry only half the amount OF wafer
Of the San Juan River in Nicaragua
Leaving Belize we took the southern channel and
thus had fine opportunity of seeing the character
istc scenery produced by mangrOve thckets lining
the banks Of river within the limits OF de-water:
Thousands Of interviewer branches OF an inverted
vegetation, as it were-scparatng dOWn"ard INTO
thinner and thinner roots, uniting upward Into
thicker and thicker stems which you might call the
legs Of torest-aTe lifting the main TRUNKS high above
the flood Now and then these elevated roots form
large grOttOes of the most fantastic appearance,
under which YOU may pass with sinaH canoe, aIu
where a whole fleet of such little crafts might hide
itself from YOUR view at fifty yards distance. ny
the endless variety of 50 grotesque foreground, the
general monOtOny happily relieved. Our SIX
CARDS paddlad away in the best humOr, showing
their dexerty in the handling of their little oars by
now and then giving double stroke to the water IN
the time required Tor single one, or letting thein
wheel round upon their hand as TO be again In the
right position when required by the time OF the regu
lar movement Of the little crew, while in lowered
voice they sang their songs OF strange melody and
unnteligble language.
A little above the IIaulover the mangr0ves dlsap-
pear The banks rise above the level of the water
and begin 10 be fit for cultivation, though III time OF
Limitations during the rainy season the whole country
is occasionally Oyerhowed. Now and then we passed
little hut, half hidden between some giant PLAN
tain leaves and oyershadQYed by few cocoanut
trees, After three or four hours padding we
reached the plantation of Air. Rohr, the German
gardener whom have mentioned in one of my former
letters Most agreeably We were surprised by the
neatpess of the little house in which we were re-
ceyed with all the hospitality We could have ex-
rected from old friends or relations and quite as
much so by the excellent breakfast, by which Mrs.
Rohr legitiinated herself as true German house.
wife from the borders OF the Rhine. Mr.. and Mrs:
Bohr were among the first settlers Of the i'll
famed Belgian colony of SantO Tomas, the coast
Of Guatemala, where they spent many years
before retiring TO their present place on the banks
If the Belize River, where they now own very eX-
tensiye tract Of land.
The situation of the little house is delightful. The
river, here noble stream, passes before its door
| the opposite bank offering the admirable view of
Dr. IOungs place, one Of the Oldest CIVILIZATIONS and
residences On the Belize River. There, long ave-
nue. of cOcOanut trees planted at regular distances
| extends along the bank, from which an evergreen
meadow, bordered by forest trees, spreads toward
| the interior The buildings appear of modest pre-
seat could not be imagined on the banks Of the Mis-
sissippi River even if its Natural advantages of eli
mate and vegetation could be compared 10 those ot
| the Belize AS to Mr.. RolT's property, the garden,
in which all the more delicate vegetables consumed
bv the connosseurs of Belle are raised, surrounds
| the dwelling house toward the Interior. A for
est of fine trees stands i'll the rear, and behind this
| ali open savanna, with scattered pines, extends.
Though mentioned already ina former letter, must
repeat here that Mr. Rohr does the greater part of
the labor in the cultivation Of his garden himself be-
cause the colored population, he says has not sense
| enough to be available working hands IN well
cultivated garden The same judgment is passed by
Mrs. Rohr in respect TO house-seryants, whom she
found so lazy and impairment that she came 10 the
resolution 10 do without any. mus she performs an
the work in her house and kitchen herself, and she
| succeeds in keeping every mock aud corner as neat
| and clean as the wife of wEngland &rmer ever
would do. Both Mr.. and Mrs Rohr, though not
having escaped attacks OF intermittent FEVER,
are very healthy and who sees them VIII not doubt
their assurances of the salubrlty OF the climate,
which they believe Ia be as good 40 any IN the world
| They are however of an almost equally favorable
opinion in respect 10 the climate OF SantO Tomas,
| in defiance Of the terrible reputation which that
place has acquired by the mortality OF the colonlsts
There are several other persons IN Belize who have
belonged 10 that colony and have taken considera-
| bic pains and interest in collecting and comparing
their statements in reference 10 the unlucky tate OF
In settlement. But all agree that the climate had
very little to do with il. The country Is described
by them as incomparaby rich and beautiful, the eli
mate as good; but of the company who speculated
in bringing the settlers OUT, and principally OF the
directors Of the settlement itself every one, they
say, ought to have been hanged BY the most fool
sh organization and Ubiquitous exeriion OF arbitrary
power TIE colonists, placed in an absolute wilder
hess, where the existence OF welprePared loca-
Ill. a.. .,.t.