San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-06
seer's Princely Life.

cas- anu SElISfS-Ane over
seer's Princely Life.
An interesting story about mahog.
any cutting and rafting has reached
the state department from Consul
Burchard, Belize, the capital of the
British possessions in Central Amer
lea, now a city of considerable COM
mercial Importance, owes its origin
and wealth to the mahogany cutters.
During the first half of the present
century princely fortunes were quick
ly accumulated in the business, es.
pecially by those who had the good
fortune to secure contracts from the
English government for the mahog-
any which was formerly largely en-
ployed in naval architecture. Since
iron and steel have taken the place of
wood in the construction of public
vessels the mahogany trade has de-
creased to notable extent, although
it IL still large and profitable.
The expense and difficulty of get
ting out the wood are much greater.
Few trees can now be found near the
river of sufficient water to float the
logs. Having selected and secured
a suitable locality and arranged with
one of the exporting houses of Belize
to advance the means in provisions
and cash to carry on the works, the
mahogany cutter hires his gang of
Iaborers for the season. Nearly all
labor contracts are made during the
Christmas holidays, as the gangs
from the mahogany works all con-
gregate in Belize at that time. The
men are hired for q year at wages
rangling from So to 500 per month.
They generally receive six months
wages in advance, one-half of which
is paid in goods from the house which
furnishes the capital. The cash re-
ceived by the laborers is mostly vast
ed in dissipation before they leave
the city. Early In January the works
are commenced. Camps Tor "banks" as
they are called, are organized at con-
venient places on the margin of some
river in the district to be worked.
Temporary houses matched with
palm-leaves are erected for the labor
ers, and a substantial building for the
store and dwelling of the overse or.
All work in mahogany cutting Is
done by tasks. The best laborers are
out at day-b eak and generally finish
their task before IL o'clock. The rest
of the day can be spent in fishing,
hunting, collecting India rubber and
or in working up ma
into dories, paddles and
bowls, for all of which they will find
a ready market. Game and fish are
abundant, the former consist
ing OF two varieties of hogs
(warree and peccary), deer and
antelopes, tapir mountain cow,
monkeys, two varieties Of wild tur-
keys armadillos, gibonets, Indian
rabbits, cartridges, quail, macaw,
parrots, etc. The rivers abound in
excellent fish, and the supply of ter
rapin and iguanas is inexhaustible.
The owner or overseer of mahogany |
works is q distinguished parsonage |
within the district of his operations.
He lives well, often luXurious]y, and |
has many and various sources of en-
joyment. His rustic dwelling in the |
forest is supplied with every comfort |
and many luxuries. He travels up |
and down the river in a bateau made |
of mahogany and filled up regardless |
of expense for enjoyment and conve- |
nience. He carries everything need |
full for hunting and fishing, and his
lockers are supplied with the choicest
viands, wines, liquors and cigars.
His crew consists of from ten to twen- |
ty sklllful rowers, generally Indians,
and a cook and waiting boy. He
camps out at night on the bank of the
river, where savory dishes are pre-
pared which would puzzle the unin-
itiated. No menu is considered COM
plete without entremets of monkey
and iguana cooked la criolla, which |
even the uninitieted pronounce de.
licious.
The mahogany tree hunter is the
most important and best paid laborer
in the service. Upon bis skill and
activity largely depends the success
Of the season. Mahogany trees do
hot grow in clumps or clusters, but
are scattered promiscuously through
the forests and hidden in a dense
growth of underbrush, vines and
ereepers. 1t requires a skillful and
experienced woodsnan to find them.
No one can make any progress in
tropical forest without the aid of a
machete or heavy bush-kpite. He
has to cut his way step by step.
The mahogany is one of the largest
and tallest of trees. The hunter
seeks the highest ground, climbs to
the top of the highest tree, and sur
veys the surrounding country. His
practiced eyes detect the mahogany
by its peculiar foliage; he counts the
trees within the scope of his vision.
notes directions and distances, then
descends and cuts a narrow trail TO
each tree, which he carefully blaazes
and marks, especially if there is a RI
-, 10 II I'M,