The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-14
PEES OF HONDURAS.
Y Mahogany is the Monarch
of the Forest.
- LOGGING is CARRIED ON.
g. tropical Jungle SO Dense That
rv.ry step Has to Be Hewed with tho
Ax-JoIIy Life in the Woods.
,.,ert By Consul Burchard, Of Ruatan.

s..ort by Consul Burchard, OF Ruatan.
=. republic Of Honduras, as well as the
itory known as British Honduras, has
~ heen celebrated for its forests of ma
,.ssny and other fne-grained woods.
- the capital of the British posses
-s q Central America, now q city of
<.ddGable commercial Importance, owes
!. .r;sin and wealth to the mahogany cut
= During the first half of the present
S.fury princely fortunes were quickly
.sumuIated in the business, especially by
- Who had the good fortune to secure
sntracts from the English government
e tie mahogany which was formally
Ieerly employed in naval architecture.
~ iron and steel have taken the place
irood in the construction of public yes
- the mahogany trade has decreased to
.aatabIe extent, although 1t is still large
"a prohtable. The mahogany cuttings
z British Honduras require at present
- capital to carry them on than form
~. The expense and difficulty of getting
81 The wood has greatly increased, as but
1npsratiyely few trees can now be found
~ . the banks of rivers or streams of
r6Icimt water to float the logs to the
ua6k
/ n Spanish Honduras, and especially
x;fhin the limits of this consular district.
/ here are still forests Astounding in ma
hoeauy and other precious woods, where,
l mdoubtedly, foreign industry and capital
nieht be safely and profitably employed.
ihe rude and primitive system of manipu-
1 hting the mahogany still practiced by the
/ Inelish In telling the trees and in hewing,
I huling, rafting and embarking the logs
yosld be discarded by Americans, who
| vsuld naturally adopt modern improve
I ntnfs and inventions, and thereby ac-
! smplish more work in the same time with
/ much less labor and expense. Twill briefly
describe the English system as practiced
D by the wood-cutter in Honduras.
Having selected and secured suitable
4 locality and arranged with one of the ex-
porting houses of Belize to advance the
! means In provisions and cash to carry on
! hs works. the mahogany cutter hires his
| nng of laborers for the season. Nearly
| Ill labor contracts are made during the
| Christmas holidays, as the gangs from the
mahogany works all congregate in Belize
Il that time. The men are hired for a
yar at wages ranging from sic to $50 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 wasted in
dimipstion before they leave the city.
Early in January the works are COM
nenced. Camps Tor banks" as they are
0usd) are organized at convenient places
onihe margin of some river in the dis
tict to be worked. Temporary houses
matched with palm leaves are erected FOR
he laborers and substantial building for
the store and dwelling of the overseer.
nexorkmen are divided into gangs, and
eeaptain appointed over each gang, whose
principal duty is to give each man his
tslly task and see that the same is prop
0ly done. All work in mahogany cutting
|shdone by tasks. The best laborers are
out at daybrcak and generally finish their
task before IL o'clock. The rest of the day
can be spent in fishing hunting, collecting
India rubber and sarsaparilla, or in work
ms up mahogany into dories, paddles,
bowls, etc, for all of which they find q
ready market. Game and fish are abund-
ant the former consisting of two varieties
Of hogs twarree and peccary), deer and an
hlopes, tapir (mountain cow, monkeys,
TWO varieties of wild turkeys, armadillos,
gbonets. Indian rabbits, cartridges, quail,
maeaws, parrots, etc. The rivers abound
N excellent nsh, and the supply of terra
pin and iguanas is inexhaustible.
The regular ration for laborer in this
Of de of
pork and seven quarts of nour per week,
which is delivered to him every Sunday
morning. The abundance of game and
Wild fruits enables the mahogany laborer
70 save a large part of his rations, which he
either sells to his employer or sends home
70 his family. The standard of morality in
the mahogany camps is decidedly low.
women OF easy virtue are always present
ana cause frequent quarrels and disorders.
disputes and questions concerning such
women are settled by the overseer in ac-
and recognized by the lahorers; for in
stance. the man who entices a woman
away from another with whom she has
peen iying must pay all expenses incurred
oy the latter in bringing her to the camp,
etc.
The owner or overseer OF mahogany
works is distinguished parsonage within
me district Of his operations. He lives
Wei, often luxuriously, and has many and
Varied sources OF enjoyment. His rustic
uweiing IN the forest is supplied with
Every comfort and many Injuries. He
travels up and down the river in bateau
maue OF mahogany and titted up regard
Iess OF expense for enjoyment and con-
vehience, He carries everything needful
ior hunting and tshing, and his lockers
are supplied with the choicest viands,
wines, liquors and cigars. His crew con-
ssts OF from twelve 10 twenty skillful
Iowers, generally Indians, and captain,
COOK and waiting boy He camps out ut
nlght on the bank of the river, where
ssvory dishes are prepared, which would
puzzle the uninitiated. No menu is con-
Suered complete without entremets of mon
Aey ana iguana cooked Ia crioila, which
V T tue uninitiated pronounce delicious.
Ihe mahogany hunter is the most i'm
poftant and best paid laborer in the ser.
sice. Upon his skill and activity largely
Sepends the success of the season. Ma
.ogahy trees do not grow in clumps or
busters, but are scattered promiscuously
through the forests and hidden in a dense
growth of underbrush. vines and creepers.
requires skillful and experienced
"ooasman to find them. No one can make
ssny progress in a tropical forest without
me aid OF a maehete, or heavy bush knife.
ne 81 mas TO cut his way step by step.
ahe mahogany is one of the largest and
s mest of trees. The hunter seeks the
hsighest ground, climbs To the top Of the
M.snest tree, and surveys the surrounding
wIntry. His practiced eyes detect the
mahogany by its peculiar foliage; he counts
sae trees within the scope of his vision
aoles directions and distances, then de.
sfnas and cuts narrow trail To each tree
saacn he carefully blazes and marks. es-
pscially if there is rival hunter in tina,
.6,hity. The axmen follow the hunter
'ap after them 90 the sawyers and hewers
s.le Tell large mahogany tree Is one
ssy task for two men. On account of the
a. sae spurs which project from the trunk a,