Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-04

shoulders, or be blown about by vagrant
breezes, or lifted in crossing puddles. The
-eboso is as much feature here as in Mex
leo, but these of Belize are picturesque
scarfs OF crimson, or yellow, vastly becom-
ing to the sable wearers, whose plump
cheeks resemble well-polished sections of
Russia stove-pipe. As elsewhere, the race
runs to iewelry, and the females sport the
most enormous hoop-shaped earrings of
native gold, and necklaces composed Of
golden beads, Of silver coins, piled string
above string, around their fat necks, till
their backs must ache with the burden.
Mr. Stephens, who visited this queer
country a number of years ago, wrote that
he hardly knew whether to be shocked or
amused at the condition of society at
Belize. Said he | stopped in the house
Of merchant, whom l found at what is
called a second breakfast The gentleman
sat on one side Of the table and his lady
on the other At the head was British
officer, and opposite him a mulatto; on
his left was another officer, and opposite
him also mulatto. BY chance, e place
was made for me between the two coiored
gentlemen. Some of my countrymen. per-
haps, might have hesitated about taking II.
but | did not. Both were well dressed.
well educated, and polite. They talked Of
their mahogany works, of England, hunt
ing, horses, and ladies; and before had
been an hour in Belize, learned that the
great work of practical amalgamation-
the subject of so much angry controversy
at home-had been going on quietly for
generations; that color was considered
mere matter Of taste, and that some of tie
most respectable citizens had black wives
and mongrel children, whom they edu-
Gated as carefully, and made money for
With as much zeal as if their skins we're
perfectly white"
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Ste
phens came to Central America intrusted
by the President of the United States
with special confidential mission; and
this is his description of the house that
was assigned him for occupation while in
Belize: "The road to it was ankle-deep
IN mud. AT the gate was a large puddle
which We cleared by a jump. The house
was built on piles, about two feet high, and
underneath was water nearly a foot deep.
We assembled on plank to the sill oi the
door, and entered large room occupying
the whole of the first floor, and perfectly
empty. The upper story was tenanted by
family Of negroes; in the yard was a
house swarming with neE Eroes; and every
where were picturesque groups Of little
negroes, of both sexes, naked as they were
born. We directed the room to be swept
and our luggage brought in; and as we left
the house we remembered Captain iIamp-
tons remark, that Belize was the last place
made"
This, however is not a fair sample of
the average casa Of the well-to-do Belizan
of to-day. The houses are all of wood
uniformly painted, white, and elevated
upon mahogany pillars from two to ten
feet above the swampy level, according to
situation and consequent danger of flood
ing during the wet season. Most of them
are roomy and convenient, and besides
the costly legs aforesaid have rafters,
beams and floors, doors and window cas-
ings Of the same rare wood, beautifully
polished, which age has turned to rich
dark-red
The climate is r; ther too moist to be
agreeable, but not unhealthy, and is Won
derfully favorable to vegetation. During
the three dry months-April, May and
June-fresh water becomes alarmingly
scarce all over British Honduras, as there
are no rivulets, and the rivers are brackish
for several miles inland. But when the
rainy season fairly sets in it is Just as bad
in the opposite direction, for thel the
streets become flooded and difficult to cross !;
and 1t is not uncommon for people, whose
houses are perched upon the highest stills,
to be driven to the second story.
Gruesome tales are told Of sudden inun-
dations, when families, asleep in their beds,
have been washed out of the chamber win
dows and carried off to sea and it is said
that about the only sickness in Belize
comes when the receding waters have left
vast green swamp to tester in the tropic
sun. FANNIE Z. WARn.