Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-11
OUR SERIAL LETTER
Something About Honduras, It's People
aAa Products.
Contributed 10 he Lodrer.l

NAlCn" vi VII IL ~ hANNA NANAAANAAa
from the States) to act as my interpre-
ter through the interior. Wednesday
morning, April 10th, after various
preliminaries, we left San Pedro, go
ing down the Sula valley, following
tho line ola little railroad, which ter
minated in about two leagues at the
village of Chameleon. Here was the
scene offs bloody conflict about two
years ago between the troops of Pres
ident Aarias and those ofthe flibuster
Palassius.
Near this place we encountered an
encampment presided wei by Don
Louis-an old Frenchman. They
we're engaged in gathering fustic.
This dye wood, though a native of the
West Indies, is found in vast quaint
ties in this country. Just after night
fall we entered an immense savannah,
which was illuminated by myriads of.
phosphorescent insects, which varied
in brilliancy at the will of the insect
Ahich emitted it. | shall never for
get my first encounter with the Ian
tern fly. Late in the evening | was
riding through a dark hammock, my
guide a few PAGES behind me, when
suddenly a brilliant light seemed to
bound up from the earth just ahead in
my pathway, and its swaying motion
resembled a bounding fre-ball. |
pretend to no presence of miHd-On
the contrary, my fear is that | am
miserably and shamefully deficient in
that quality. Unconsciously | raised
myselfin my stirrups, as though to
make my mule walk easier. Foolish
idaal My mule, awakened to the same
degree of excitement, dashed sudden
ly aside and precipitated me into the
arms of my imaginary devil, which
proved to be only a fly.
The following night we stopped at
Pimienta. The next morning we had
to swim our mules across the Ullua
river. Our journey, during this whole
day, was over one unbroken ledge Of.
tocks, many of them being volcanic
deposits. Now and then we would
pass a rude cross by the roadside, set
up by some charitable hand to mark
the place where some traveller had
laid down his life at the hand of a
robber assassin. Around these crosses
we invariably observed a pile Of rocks,
it being a religious custom of the ma
tives, whenever passing, to throw a
stone upon the pile. The huge pro-
portions which some of these piles as
sumed, indicated that the custom had
been rigidly observed.
We stopped the next evening at
Santa Cruz. Our travel vas slow,
owing to the rugged road, which, at
times, led over mountains of " sharp,
angling rock p%recipitous passes and
deep gorges. There was nothing of
particular interest to attract notice
beyond the occasional sight of a troop
of monkeys sporting in all the free
dom of their native element. The
flesh Of the monkey is regarded quite
a luxury by these natives, and even |
was cannibal enough to make one adj
vance upon this eccentric diet. The
initiation was sufficient, as | ever af-
terward left this Darwin's grandfather
20 be deYOured by his nearer kindred.
Santa Cruz ranks among the promi-
nent cities of Honduras, though the
mercantile BUSINESS is entirely neg
lected here-the greater part of tho
population being stock ~raisers, owning
extensive ranches. 1t has an advau-
tage of a very temperate climate,
owing 10 its high location. 1t was re-
freshing, after toiling for hours
through the valley under the almost
parching sun, to arrive at the top of
this mountain and enjoy a delicious,
cool breeze.
1t was here that we saw the native
population in all its glory. Their hue
is yellow brown, in some parts coppery.
varying in shade. The women are not
devoid of good looks, and as a general
thing are better developed than the
the men. The custom of carrying wa
ter ON their head give to them an erect
carriage and firm step. There has
been such an amalgamation of the
races since the Spanish settlement
of the country, that you do not find a
great many pure indians or Aztecs,
but whenever they are found they
seem to retain most of their aboriginal
customs, 30 that the introduction of
different phases Of civilized life have
made but few innovations on their old
habits. The lower class wear a waist
cloth Of white cotton or "pita," which
latter is a kind of hemp, or a long
shirt of the same material, the ends
of which are passed between the legs
and tied at the waist. A sombrero"
Of straw completes the attire. You
occasionally see one wearing what is
called the 'serape"-this resembles
the ordinary blanket, though checked
and figured. They mostly 20 bare
footed, but when travelling they wear
the ld-fashioned sandal being a
piece Of rawhide fastened with lesth.
er thongs.
Leaving Santa Cruz we entered the
Valley of Santa Barbara, which sepa.
rates the great plain Of Comayagua by
= group o. mountains known az the
: MonticellOs. During this day we
passed the falls Of the Rio Yure. The
banks OF this river were studded with
maugrove and mahogony trees Of CO.
lossal size. Near where VIC crossed
several streams flow into this river.
which forces a zigzag route through
the mountains, forming terrific rapids
as It descends to the valley, It's bed
is covered with jutting rocks, and the
current rushing over these lashes tho
water into a froth. forming a grand
aud imposing cascade.
We followed the course Of the Yure
fsY several miles, and could hear its
roar ioag after We left II. We rested
the next evening at tho city of Miam-
! boz. ! had some hesitancy in stop.
, ping over here, owing to tho bad ro-
80. 20 a.. H. - - 4