The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-05-29
.rY between .it and gYneatan

abont the western border, and running u,
allel eastwardly; emptyingi into the Bay
Honduras. We assembled those rivers
! high as we7could in steamboat, and then
hght canoes, stopping along at interva
and walking out across about half way
the next river, Having thus examined O,
river, we would come oht and 20 round !
to the next one, which was examined
theSsarle manner andsthus we proceed,
to explore the whole country.
j ..,-s, CLIMATE.
We found the climate We very pleasant, No
withstanding We were there in what
called the, dry season, Which is the hottie
in the year. The thermometer RANGE
from rs to SO, Fahrenheit. We walked
alb hours of the.day in. the open fields an
dense forests but we found the temper
ture SO modified by the constant SCI
6reezes that it was much less oppressiy
than the heat of summer which we had g,
perienced in the Southern States. Tb
nights are always pleasantly cool and br,
chg. The thermometer never rises aboy
80, nor falls below 60-ranging general
from rs to 80 hHG st}Sl
We were informed by a planter, forme,
~ from Louisiana, but who had lee
planting in the Colony three years, tina
the seasons there are about as they are +
the Southern States. But from Decembe
to May is the dryest season. yet there
more OF less rain during that time. ,Abou
the latter part Of May or June gdod rain
fall; and then about the latter part q
June Q few heavy rains fall, mostly a
night only; then again The weather i
moderately seasonable for month or so
then heavier rains fall again in Septembe
and October, and lighter until the latte
part of November; bit the rains fall gene,
ally n the night, and the days are clear
In all our rambles we did not see half
dozen trees blown down by wind nor on
stricken by lightning. 5J5F & Su41t
-, ,a,sA. HEALTH. A..
From what we saw, experienced. ami
learned 1--WE are satisfied that the country 4
very healthy-more SO than our Sonther,
States. The prevailing diseases are YER,
mild and amenable to treatment. Tn or
perambulations through the Country WI
walked IN the morning dew and midday
sun, and slept IN the night air with no 9th
er couch Or Covering than the ground q
sky. We would get quite cold in the
night; but we would button up our coats
and slept coolly. And though thus :ex,
posed ourlhealth even improved. y.
8 We have never seen such perfectly de.
yeloped men and women as those natives
are; and they are complete pictures of per.
feet health: The European population
who went there in good health, have ever
SINCE 8! enjoyed almost uninterrupted health
as they assured as, and appeared to have
done Generally those who went there in
feeble health assured US they. had recuper-
ated, and enjoyed better health than for.
merly. We believe that our Southern peo-
pie emigrating to British Honduras would
experience no bad effects from the transi-
ton; but in many instances would find
the climate beneficial to their health.
4 SOIL.
The soil in the South half Of the Colony
resembles that on the Brazos river in Tex
as, the Arkaneas river, and the Red river,
1t Is rich red loan to very great depth,
nearly everywhere covered with Cahoon
growth, which is indicative of the best pro.
ductive qualities. The rivers run parallel.
and are distant about 6 to lO. and is miles
apart, and naFigable in lowest water 12 to
~ miles, and much farther up 6 or g.
months in the year /, Most of them are liza
bic oncea year to overflow their banks
down within three or four miles of the sea-
coast. Some of these overflow the margin
ot their banks even.a greater distance than
that up from their mouths. But they don't
overflow every year; and when they do
spread out over the adjacent lands the wa
5er remains only a few hours before it re-
Tres, leaving an alluvial deposit. And in
many places a. evee eighteen inches or
wo feet high would protect even the front
ands from overflow; and levees much
over than have BEEN fequifedin Louisi.
ma would reclaim the whole chuntry from
nundation: Plantains which are very
'aluable product, as well as Bananas and
ther productions; are not injured at all
y an overflow which Subsidies IN So short
ime. There are no intervening swamps
etween the rivers; on the contrary the in
eryenlng lands are elevated higher than
he margins of the rivers even. And there
re excellent creeks OF pure water every
lile or two; and the same quality of rich |
)il throughout generally. Excellent roads
lay be established from one river to an
Their at proper distances, and settlements
Q made on them as we'll as on the rivers.
UGH is the character of the eastern half
the southern District. 1t is level river
ottom generally. The western half is
Ugh, elevated lands, terminating abruptly
mountain peaks, which crop out on the
yer plains just described. All those lands
zen to the submits. of the towering hills
Q Of the same quality of soil, very rich
Id productive. The Hill lands wonld be
'eferable for Coffee, which grows well
ere, and is Of course very profitable.
In the northern half Of the Colony the
nds are very level, and intersected with
yers and bayous, which are also naviga-
e, but never overflow their banks. The
Il is rich black mould with O slight adj
ixtnre of black sand, very similar to the t
Il on the Mississippi river and the At j
afalaya. But in the northeastern quar- i
of the northern District the soil is I'M
Raid with, white mari, about the color
d consistence of chalk, which is, from \
yhteen inches To three and Ave feet be- ,
" the surface; further west and south =
Q black mould becomes deeperi until the
ri ceases, or is displaced by rich red I
W.. The soil in the whoIB of British r
'ndnras, with very limited exceptions, is
rich and productive as can ,be found il
where on earth The landsare in large | il
dies. There is more good lands and less z
ste lands than we have ever found in L
y other country. There is plenty of rich j
,ductive soil ii the Colony to sustain, in .
lat abundance, all our good Confederate y
,ple, for whom we now hold it at cost, :, =
l invite them to come and occupy it Ii
ID us. tp
SO pRoDucf1oNs. v
would almost be afraid to tell the whole
tn about the productions of British L
nduras, if ] could; for really they are ~
SO abundant, and SO valuable =,
It a full account of them would appear 2
ulous.l There are many valuable woods II
various oses-mahogany; rose "
cd, santa maria, cabbage stalk! tree, W
8 last two resembling tie white oak, ic
ar, of enormous size and superior quail G
!, sapadilla, a red and Very heavy wood
valuable timber, large pitch pine, ig. ,,,e
9, vitae, white mangroYe,, etc., etc. oe
here is a great variety offruits, such as .
ntains, bananas, eoeoa-nuts, oranges, II
Q apples, lemons, lines, 1nangoes, ca
VS., star apples, custard apples, ayocata %