Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-07-02
HONDURASi
As Seen by One who has been There
Both Sides Of the Picture.

teresting result of his observations in that by
no means inviting tropical region =
ATLANTA, June 10, 1867.
To dte LateNigeRcer MANY persons being
dcsirous Of obtaining information of lIondu-
ras, propose, at the solicitation of several
friends, to give the result Of my observations
during six weeks sojOurn in that country.
Lands may be easily obtained ut IRON iO to
so cents per acret or parties may get them
under u recent immigration act us u donation
from the government They are rich-in
fact, cannot be exhausted-and will produce
in abundance almost everything that grows,
such, for Instance, as corn, cotton, sugar, cof,
fee, rice, tobacco, indigo, cOcow, beans, pOta>
toes, pumpkins, squaShes, cabbage, tomatoes,
turnips, melons, &c. Wheat does not pros
per. Corn will grow three crops from the
same ground every year, yielding at least so
bushels to the acre each crop, without any
cultivation more than simply planting the
seed. Cotton produces two crops in eighteen
months, each crCp yielding. as 1 was inform.
ed, from two to three thousand pounds of
seed cotton to the acre. This is long staple
sea island cotton, and from my experience in
cotton raising. l have no doubt rs to the cor.
rectness of the statement. The stalks are six
feet apart in hills each way, aud from six TO
ulHe iecI IllS uuu uS3N ny IduSu Win DaIIS 10
the top all Of which natures. Cotton is also
raised without cultivation. The stalks, after
each crop is gathered, have to be cut down,
as they will grow so tall that the cotton can
not be gathered. If left alone they would
become large trees. 1 saw one six years old
that much resembled in size pear or apple
tree of the same age. There can be two
crops OF sugar in one year, and the yield is
abundant. The cane is very large. 1t is not
necessary to plant the sugar cane or the cot
ton Oitcner thau every ten years. Two crops
OF tobacco are made every year. Coffee, one
crop ouly, but it continues to grow for many
years. Rice, one crop and very fine; it
grows on any kind Of land. Cocow, one crop,
but it continues TO produce from the same
stalk for many years. Potatoes grow and ma
turc at all seasons, some of them enormously
large, but | believe they are not 50 delicious
as our own here. Cabbage can be grown ali
the year round and other vegetables the same
Melons grow finely. Vegetables require cul-
tivation, and for this reason but few OF them
are used by the natives Garden seeds are
quite scarce there.
The timber is generally very large, but not
dense. The valuable woods are mahogany.
rosewood, cedar, liguum vitae, ebony. India
rubber, logwOOd, chinchOna and others. The
medical plants arc not yet dcvelDTcd.
Stock mules and horses are small but very
stout aud serviceablc, and plenty of them in
the country. The cattle arc vGfy fine and of
good sizc--arc similar TO the English breed.
Hogs are Of large size. and all black Sheep
the same as those OF Georgia, but, together
with the goat, are not numerous, only being
raised as kind Of pet. Mules and horses
vary in price from SO to 500. The COW and
beef from So to Sl2; in herds they can be
purchased for less. Poultry is raised in great
abundance. There is plenty 81 game. such
as deer, turkey, duck, prairie hen, wild pig.
&c. The first is said TO be plentiful saw
but Few. There are oranges, lemons, cocoa
nuts, pine. apples, bananas, alligator pears,
and many other fruits, at all seasons CT the
year.
l heard of several valuable gold, silver. con
per, lead, iron. aud salt-pctrc mines Labor
can be had at 81 cents per day. the Iaborer
maintaining himself. 1t is not necessary to
feed stock at all, as they keep fat 10y grazing.
Corn is only for purposes Of bread. y short
time before hog are killed they are fed upon
corn.
l found the ENTHUSIASTICALLY, supplying NE
in every instance with all the comforts | ask
ce for. Provisions sell as follows Rice,
cents per pound; sugar $3.50 to S5 per hun.
dred pounds; hogs. each, 80 to S5; cat.
tie, 50 TO SS; sheep, aud goats, T5 to 81 70
cigars, per 1000, 81 to So; dry hides each.
81. Any kind of merchandise can be bought
ut the seaport towns at less prices than here.
The country is mostly mountainous, with
many beautiful streams flowing from them
The water is very pure aad clear, hut not so
cool as that of Georgia. There is an album
Gancc Of water Tor mill purposes. The
streams run rapidly, and have pebbIy bot
toms.
Among the natives saw or heard Of but
little drinking or gambling. and Americans.
who have lived there for years. inform me
that they were very honest, theft being rare
among them. Being Of peaccablc and quiet
natures disturbance are Of rare occurrence
The government is republic, with laws sim
liar to those OF this country. The President
and Vice President are elected every four
years, and the other officers US VIC DO. Amer
leans who have lived for many years look to
be in excellent health, and represent the
country healthy as any other. could see
no cause for sickness. There were no stag
nant waters, and the natives live 10 very
old age.
THE OTHER SIDE.
I have given all the good qualities, and
now for few bad ones. The Spanish Ian
guaGe is spoken altogether. Tie water is
not as cooI ana refreshing as one could desire.
The heat in the middle of tie day is very
oppressive, but the mornings and evenings
cool aud pleasant. There are plenty of
ticks and-gnats, a few mosquitoes and great
many ants. The society, like that of all new
countries, is not good. There are none bot
Catholic churches. The houses are very few
and very sorry-are made Of mud, with dirt
floors. There are no mills. no grist mills.
no wagons. no buggies, no harness, and no
ploughs. The inhabitants are very ignorant,
the most Of them being entirely destitute Of
education. There are TO shoemakers. or
machinery of any kind in the country No