Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-06-16
The Ray IsIands.

Now that Gen. WALKER has gone to Ruatan, atten-
ton is naturally directed to the Bay Islands and the
condition of their inhabitants 1t has been for some
time apprehended that difficulties with the inhabit-
ants would grow out Of the recent treaty whereby
Great Britain surrenders the sovereignty Of the Bay
Islands to the government of Honduras The in
habitants, upon the PRONUNCIATION of the Queens
proclamation, made formal demand for certain
guarantees from the government Of Honduras, I'M
porting virtual declaration Of independence, and
allowing the Honduras government but mere the
oretical sovereignty over them. The demand has
not been answered by the Honduras government,
and the excitement is rapidly increasing as the time
approaches for the formal cessiOn. The inhabitants
are preparing in earnest to meet the issue and, if
need be- forcibly resist any actual assertion Of Hon
durean sovereignty over them. They have for
some months extended encouragement to American
emigration to the Islands, and we learn by late ar
rival with dates to the It'll that considerable num-
bers of Americans were arriving by almost every
vessel from New Orleans, meeting not only friend
perception but profitable empoymentin the Islands.
The British Government have offered the inhabitants
land in the British Islands free Of charge but they
Indignantly reject the offer and have resolved upon
resistance.
In this connection the testimony of Mr.. E. G.
SQuERs interesting work on Central America, in re-
gard to the military as well as commercial impor-
lance of the Bay Islands, will possess unusual in
terest Mr. SQUrER devotes chapter Of about fifteen
pages to their description We will only quote here
a single paragraph:
To the northward Of the mainland of Honduras,
in the bay Of the naTse there IS cluster OF
/ L al A,F 1,a nouA OF dis
lance from it Of thirty to fifty miles. Their names,
II the order Of their size, are ROatan sometimes
written Ruatan and Ratlan,) Guanajaha Cor Bo-
nacca) Utilla, Barbaretta, Helena and Morat. De-
pendent upon them are numerous lslets. or Gays,
of small size These island have good soil, hne ell
mate advantageous position, and some Of them ex'
celent harbOrs. rendering them both valuable and
important to that portion OF the continent upon
which they are geographically dependent Roatan,
largest of the these islands is about thirty miles
long by nine broad at its widest part 1t may be
considered says Alcedo "as the key Of the Bay OF
Honduras and the focus Of the trade Of the neigh
boring Countries. This beautiful island echoes
Nacgreror "has aneXcelent harbOr, easily defended
and is well adapted TO the culture Of cotton, coffee
and other tropical products" And Captain Mitchell
of the British Navy, whose account was written IN
/ 1850 adds that 1.-The local position OF the island
seems ore Of Importance IN commercial, and per
haps in a political, point Of view. II Is the only
place where good harbOrs are found on an extensive
and dangerous COAST And also 'that its proXmi-
ty to Central America and Spanish Honduras seems
to point it out as good depot for English goods and
/ manufactures, where they would ind ready mar
ket eUea in opposition to any duties placed on them"
! "Reatan and Bonaca," writes another English
author 'n consequence Of their fine harbors, good
soil pure air, and great quantities OF animals, tish
and fruits and commanding ground, are prOverblal
! " known in that part of the world as the Garden
! Of the West Indies the key to Spanish America,
and New Gibraltar From their natural strength
they might be made impregnable being tenable with
/ a very small force"