Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-09
HONDURAS.
skstch Of e IMP Through the BILLS
and Valleys of Central America
A Real Terra IaoOgnlta AImOst at Oar
Doors.
0ontrlbuIed b. .he Public LsdEa.l

SeuaAoutcu tof Tue Iupuc Ao040J
SATURDAY MORNING, March 16,
1S78.-After many tedious delays in
preliminary preparations, our steamer
gracefully moved from her moorings
at Picayune pier, New Orleans, and
turned her face toward the great gulf,
A stiff northeast breeze was prevailing,
which, combined with a rapid current,
soon bore us to the mouth Of the river
and delivered us into the great basin
of the Gulf of Mexico. l viewed the
receding shores Of Port Eads until
they melted into nothingness and with
something of the same sensation, [
imagine, which possesses the poor
emigrant, as be stands upon deck to
take a last look at bis fatherland.
This season of contemplation was,
however, doomed to be of short dura-
ton, for the heavy clouds hat hung
above us all day began to empty their
contents in perfect torrents. Night
came on and with it a heavy wind
arose to complete the carnival Of the
angry elements. The storm lasted for
about two hours, but for the details of
which you will please excuse me, as |
had an imperative call into my state
room with a visitation of that deamon
sEA-sIoRNEss.
All night long | struggled with the
monster for the mastery, and at last
the indomitable will ofmy nature pre-
vailed. 1t was refreshing, after my
nights experience, to view a calm sea,
whose pillows but just now dashed
against my cabin window. This is a
luxury only appreciahle by those, who
have seer the writhing sea and been
rolled and tumbled about until every
bone ached with acute rheumatic
pains. This life on the ocean wave
loses its poetry, after such experiences
and we are more ready to tune our
voices to that familiar old ballad,
"Take me home, take me home" etc.
On the evening of the second day,
we came in sight of Cape San Anto-
Mo, the extreme western coast Of
Cuba. Passing through Yucatan
channel, we steered directly for the
city of Belize, which place We reached
on the evening of the Dist, when we
cast anchor to await the inspector of
customs the next morning. The har-
Dor Isl beautiful one and but for its
s~hallOwness near the city, would be
considered the finest on the coast.
THE NEXT MORNING
We had q fine view, from the steamer,
Of the city nestled among the groves
Of palms aud cocoa trees. The loud,
shrill notes of peculiar birds greeted
our ears from the reefs and points
about the city. A boat now drew up
alongside the steamer, containing a
person with considerable digDitare in
bis looks and demeanOr. Across the
front Of his military cap u. NJ. Gus
toms appeared, and for a moment l
was geeny enough to think the
fellow captain Of some vessel Of that
name, until | soon ascertained that
her majestys customs had ever
been thus. After our baggage had
undergone his scrutiny, we were pro-
nounced at liberty to 20 on shore.
As no wharTes run out for the conye-
nIence Of vessels. We we're pulled
ashore in one of the boats Of our
steamer. 1t would be impossible to
conceive a more varied scene than that
which now broke upon US. We had
landed at the narket place, and were
thereby introduced, al at once. to
much Of this curious city. Here
would be found a group Of negroes.
from the pure Congo to the pure white.
BARTERIgG AND sHLLING.
Here is a group Of Indians. with
baskets ofroots, herbs and banks, and
close BY sits and old Carib, with a kind
VI esrthen soup tureen filed with a
sort Of liquid. The most numerous
Of all are the fruit dealers, and here.
for a mere song, many, if not every
tropical fruit could be bought. Oddly
uniformed soldiers mingle with the
crowd, and sailors and sea captains
from vessels lying in the harbor. But
amid all this motley profusion. there
was nothing 10 remind me Of home,
until passing further on, and looking
up at a shelf, | beheld an ear of In
dian corn, perfectly isolated, as if cast
aside Poor thing, it spoke touching
" Of exile" We continued our stroll
ABOUT the city stopping here and there
to New some delicious bananas OF
string Of inviting fish, or some rolick-
ing monkey or noisy parrot. Every
where was something curious and
pleasing.
Belize is the capital Of British Hon
duras, and has a population Of from
5000 to 10000, composed Of a diversi.
~ Of nationalities-English Scotch
American, Spaniard, Carib and Indiar
being all found among
ITS DRNIZRss.
The various industries are but
sparsely represented here, and there /,
an opening for nearly every class 0.
trade. As our steamer lay at this port
ten days | had ample opportunity Of
going over Belize aud its environi.
visited the churches, Of which Their,
are several here. The use of mshop.
any in tholr construction locked fin,
to the eyes of a truant from the North
visited also the barracks ant
the Jail. which fall short oI
those in the States, though perhaps
elegant for this place, so remote from
the facilities Of lumber. | made /,
visit to Mr.. A.. G. Prindell. formerl,
of Boston, the American consul here
and spent quite a pleasant evening a
his house. He has represented on.
government here for twelve years. anc
has doubtless made an efficient officer
In company with Mr.. C. II. Brinton
we made an excursion of about twent,
miles up the Belize river. The par
Of the river trayersed Law throurl
some Of the most fertile soil of M,
province, and along the banks could ),
seen the pleasant farmhouse. couobe,