The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-09-25

o'"ss'o' Ano rains ere generally confined to the
esentngs and nights. Wet weather win, hows
ever, sometimes continue for q week or moro,
as In tho States. This usually occurs in tho
middle OF tho season. The temperature va
| ries according to elevation. Throughout the
year, on tho elevated plateaus, Il rarely fall.
below 90 deg, nor rises above so deg. Fab. On
tho sea coast and lower plains, Il rarely falls
tails below 65 or rises above 90 o. Tho tenn
perature is from 200 to 800 cooler during the
| colder days of the w>b than the warmcr of
| tho dry season. Snow is Of unfrcquen mt occur
romeo. It occasionally falls on tho elevated
plains, but Immediately disappears.
We made diligont enquiry in regard to the
temperature of the different sections through
which wo travelled, and made daily notations
during our sojourn. An educated gentleman,
a native of the country, sixty years of age,
informed us that, within his knowledge, tho
thermometer had only once gono above 100
deg. Phe hottest day we spent in tho country
the thermometer was 90 dog. at 3 D. m, but
for few minutes only. The following morn
ing at o'clock it registered "a dog. During
tho dry season, ut times, the mornings and
evenings arc frequently SO cool as to predis-
pose to exercise, and almost every night GOV.
ering has to bo brought into rcquistion. On
the coast tho temperature ranges from ~ to
Do deg. during tho dry season, aud in the wot
6O to 30 deg; while on tho table land, in the
vicinity OF Lake Yojoa, seveuty-fve miles
from the seq board, with an elevation of $500
feet, the Thermometer, in the dry season,
ranges from 60 to 80 deg, and in the wet from
30 to ~ deg, but sometimes going above and
below these figures. Tho variation of tcmpc-
nature any one day during our stay, would
average IL deg. For instance, ut San Predro,
in Sula Plain, tho thermometer would mark
"a dog. at a. M; 80 deg. ut 10 IN. ; SO deg
at p. IN. (this always being tho warmest
hour y 79o at p. m, and no mt midnight
From 10 n. m. to p. M, tho sun is intensely
warm: while in the shade, In consequence of
the sea breeze, II is pleasant. In Midsummer
here tho writer has often folt II rs intensely
warm as in any part Of Honduras travelling FOR
weeks exposed to its rays, in the warmest per-
ton of their year.
The dry season is both the winter and sum-
mcr. During this tmo the leaves fall, and
hence they call it winter; rs most Of the fruits
ripen, they call ir summer. The nights are
very fine during this season. Tho moon and
stars seem to shine with greater brilliancy
than in the States. The stars, in absence Of
the moon, afford sufficient light to travel
without Inconvenience.
Water is everywhere abundant, though moi
so cold as horo, being about the temperature
Of our rain water of oarly summer, but NO
where to DO exceeded as to purity and clear
| ness From tho cloud-capped mountains
descend copious streams Of crystal water, and
| meeting upon the plain below, they expand
into majestic lakes, sleeping in placid stiffness
Graded by the hills, or swell into noble rvors,
leaping tho cataracts which foam in awfu
| grandeur, roll on in natures solemn pomp
canopied with lofty verdure, falling into thu
ocean which, on either hand, waits to receiv,
them. Besides Yojoa, many small lakes were
seen. around which numerous herds of cattl,
were feeding. ... ....
The rivalots and crooks are numerous, ant
Sroat many mill-seats, unsurpassed by any
In tho world, are to be seen. The number o.
these small streams may bo imagined from
the number of largo rivers that traverse tho
plains. The Ulua is tho first in size, in tho
Sula Plain, and is perhaps the largest in Hon
duras. This river is formed by the Humua
Santiago, and Blancha, which form tho illus
at the town of Santiago about Iorty mile.
from tho sea. 1t drains an extensive territory
and Is navigable oil the year for steamboat.
drawing three feet wator. The Blancha is tn,
only tributary that is narigable in the dry
season. OF this beautiful river yo spoke II
the first number. Tho Humua Is navigable il
wet seasons'as far as Comayagua. The Cham
ilicon is the second in size, and perhaps tn,
most important just now, as our emigrants ar
locating upon it 1t is very long, and is nayi
gable at ali times TO point within six mile
Of Medina for boats drawing two feet water
Above this place we were told IL could be nav
igated only IN the wet season. The cnpacioui
harbor Of Puerto Caballos, the best on the
Caribian sea, Is only twenty-five miles from
Medina, the town of the colony. The soil
almost everywhere productive, is by natur,
clothed with an infinite variety of plants
from the n:inutest fungus to the stately mon
srchs of tho forest. Among these are many
of the exotics which Arc treasured in the hot
houses of tho United States, but here arc
trodden down, with the Moss Rose and Ma,
flowers that ore prized in our flower gardens
| grow wild.
The Plain Of Sula, aud even the Valleys n
9 oonsiderablo elevation, are covered with
dense, primeval shades. There flourish togo
ther tender herbs, the prickly bush, the succu
lent cactus, the graceful and diversified pslm.
and palmettoes, wish many varieties OF gigan.
tic trees, their branches laden with purssitic.
plants, whose wax-like towers assume every
shape that fancy would suggest or taste exc
cute. Tho whole pronsiscuous assemblagO
and compact mass of Vegetation is bound to.
gether by n close network of innumerable
vines and tenaeiops teadfls of mYriads nI