The New York herald., 1867-03-22
REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.

What the Merchants Think Neutrality
in the Pacific Wharf.-The Yucatnn Indian
nroad-ReorganizatiOn of tho Militia
The Honduras Banann-Burial of Infants,
=. ~'N ~ oMoA. Honduras c. A., Jan. IA, 1867.
In my last mentioned the report Of one of tho min
listers having committed suicide The report but
true although tho person only acting in place Of the
Minister OF Interior, who had gone viat to his
family. The OF communication from this country
to other portions Of the world are few and FAR be-
that many things that happen hero and in neigh
boring parts become 90 old that am forced TO leave
thcm out OF my letters believing TINT you
them through other At present only
speak Of some of their effects The proclamation Of
this government throwing the ports of the republic open
for the reception Of prizes In the between Spain,
Chile aud Peru. caused much surprise and alarm,
the merchants Of this port at least, who look upon
the decree not exactly fair towards Spain. She has
everything 10 lose by IT, the republics Of Chile and Peru
having vessels this sde whilst SPAN has great
many They know, very justly, that If prize or
prizes taken Spain would retaliae and do SO by
burning the houses and property OF the rcsdens there
fore the merchants and those owning property expressed
their opinions freely as above.
The prcmeditaed attack OF the Indians Of Yucatan
upon Belize hc particulars Of which your correspondent
from that has doubt given you has dsarranged
the business of this port very much the principal trade
OF 0moa being with belize. never thought for mo-
ment that the indians intended 60 far Belize
their object being merely 10 rob and plumber OF small
points and the stations OF the ogwood and mahogany
cutters TO take all the prisoners they cnn and detain
then until they be ransomed by their friends Stl
do ali this requires large number Of men and this has
caused the idea Of their coming to take Belize.
The militia OF this republic has been reorganzed upon
entirely footing. They divided into three
divsionsof tho East, South, West consisting of nine
erai has supreme command. Among the prncpsl and
other officers are some OF the Presidents most bitter
foes he having selected men from all tho political par
ties, friend foe alike We shall how il viii turn
out Tho population Of this country, according 70 the
last Gcssie. tho government and only newspaper is
three hundred thousand more or less, from which popu
ation they calculate upon thrty-sx thousand I'VE hum
dred lighting men, think the estimate Of the entire
population too small and that OF the nghtng mon or
soldiers greatly oveTraed; but governmen. should
know best, 30 let 1t be as they say.
! In looking wxrKIy HERALp OF August Is, 1885,
Is article entitled "The Fruit Trade IN paragraph
relating Bananas their and cultivation. In
Honduras bananas are planted generally among PLAN
% Two distincs kinds One L. when ripe, Of Seaat. II.
full brown and purple color mixed, and OF de-
aiispacs combined with their peculiar sweet luscious @
aroma They do not produce as abundanty ~ the yel-
low banana. but are much laraer have cpunted a.
many hundred and MY eight upon one bunch or
ruciso the natives call II, OF the yellow kid They
be had here all the year round The stem OF the
would in diameter from 70 eighteen inches
according 70 the strength and moisture Of the oil Each
stom bears but bunch, and when this ft Il is cut
down and left 10 rpen in the house. Aftef the Gst
planting the original Keeps sending up Yong STEMS
that by the time the first fruit is Gus there from two
70 i've other stems coming forward. They are worth
here twelve aud half cents per bunch.
The people Of this country have some very curious
feeling and poetry They believe that when an infant
dics cay between the time Of its birth until about two
months ola 4 ascend, Immediately Heaven;
ing 1hs infant is laid out with all The nnery
The parents can Afford Or can botow from
consisting Of violins, guitars, and sohenmes .
drum In the evening the young people o,both sexes
wardrobe can sord dancing commences an lasts unu
ground They then form procession. the Iams music
drum style Of al Spanish melodies; few strag-
slers then female carrying an artificial p4h made in
form, covered with white paper and gahishod with
imitation OF roses in red blue and yeot paper also
and an abundance q aashy ribbons n,,hey have
comes tho body generally laid upon tabe; the table
is entirely covered over with fancy colorcd aws OF
on his or her head Sometimes II Ne b|rne by four
young boys Or sirls, and The body profasely
sx s1ard o men women spa So,s % bssn
some OF the relations friends OF the parnts keep up
. parting salute, as y were firing guns AMI sending of
and as soon possible they commit the body 10 the
earth Al this part OF the proceedings theb commence
a. n and Ss M ~
procession bsgins 70 pack down the esr In the grave
with large aud heavy maui they keep ptting IN earth
and hammerng down until all the earth In ite original
place It does not require very vivid Imagination for
person 70 form an Idea Of what siat the body muss
be IN after this pounding down performance finished,
and this too when In eight ous s thers
cofnn--no,hing but simple tule ma wrapped around
the body. and sometmes only piece OF calico
A soon q the inerment completed the procession
forms having loft the ornamented bDh al the head OF
the grave and returns 70 the house Of rejoicing the
music perhaps playing the same ar; dancing begins
again, and continues with the exception lttle In
tsrmisson 70 indulge in cup Of coffee chocolats g