Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1867-06-20

and valleys, to the depth, as we saw, in
newly dug grave, of about four feet; ana
the clods from the bottom of the grave
were very moist, though it was on the
river bank, about sixty feet high, and 1T
had not rained for four months.
The sugar cane was very large and fine,
and the crown surveyor told US that ne
knew cane field, now producing well,
that according to reliable testimony, had
been in constant bearing for sixty years.
The whole land, even to the tops OF the
mountains, which are all nearly Hat taole
lands, produces excellent cane, ootfee, riee'
cotton, corn and tobacco, besides all tropi-
cal fruits and vegetables, IN great aoun-
dance and perfection. We saw samples OF
very fine cotton, and were assured by the
people that no worm or insect disturbs it,
and the cacao, of which chocolate is made
grows wild in the woods, and can be made
oae of the most profitable crops in the
country.
We saw coffee trees planted in August,
1865, now about eleven feet high and full
| OF berries, and the people tell us that the
whole country produces excellent coffee.
Two crops of rice and three crops OF corn
can be raised, each year, from the same
land.
A fter four months Of dry weather, that
magnificent country shows but little want
of rain. The grass is green and the catt 10
| are fat, and SO moist is the earth kept by
its superior foundations, that the pasture
lands there are not cracked, though lower
down the river the cracks are 30 great that
it is dangerous to ride over them.
The water in the springs and streams is
| very good, though not cool, and though
we saw no wells, we were told that an
abundant supply of good water can be had
| by digging for 1t. Everything we saw and
heard led US to believe that the country
must be healthy one, as the elevation OF
| the land above the sea is from 500 to 5000
feet, and the trade wind is blowing almos
every day from o'clock A. NJ, to P. M. ;,
with most treshing and purifying effect.
During the hottest day of our "trip, W hich
was in the very hottest part of the year,
| the thermometer stood at A. M, y deg,
| at midday SO deg, and at P. NJ, 76 deg
| Very few insects or reptiles disturb this
region and we never had need to use our
mosquito bars.
We made diligent inquiry about the
prospect OF employing laborers for sugar
and coffee plantations, and more than
| forty different persons, Creole Africans,
natives of Guatemala and Mexico, mer-
chants and laborers, unanimously assured
| US, that plenty of good farm hands can be
| had to settle on these lands and work for
| the year, at about 50 a month and rations,
| which are worth there about 81 month,
and part of the m oney can be retained
| till the contract shall be fulfilled, as it YER
generally is, owing to the stringeney of the
| laws of both British Honduras and Guate-
mala. We were also assured that we could
get boys and girls apprenticed to US till of
| age, and several were offered us, on condi-
| ton of our educating them some, and Civ
| ing them some $50 or 500 when the APP
| premiership shall be faithfully completed.
A city, to be called Richm ond, is de-
termined on at place near the forks of
the river. about one hundred and fifty
| miles from Belize where there IS great
water power for mills and factories, and at
the head of steam naugation; and the
| country around 1T which has been obtained
for colony, will be called Confederate
county.
| AS soon as steamboat shall be ready,
| many cheap houses will be built on the
| city lots, to accommodate immigrants till
| they can select their homes.
B.R. DUvAL,
WIN. W. scHEMERHoRN,
BELIZE, British Honduras, June 5, 1857.