Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-04-03
No. 50.
LIFE IN HONDURAS.
Unpleasant Features Of the Place Whore
Mai. T.. a. burke Ecside~.

Unpleasant Features Of the Place Whore
Maj. T.. a. Burke Resides.
Mr. Alfred Raphael who has been absent
:or three years. returned u San Antonio yer
.erday. A great part Of his timo has been
lpent in Central America, and especially IN
Honduras. Concerning the concession tn
Maj. j. A. Burke, default;ng state treasurer
VI Louisiana, he says: 1t IL located three
miles from the town of Concorila, and have
been over it very often. 1t is many miles tn
sxtent and is very valuable, particularly from
u mineral point of view. The lotles are both
gold and silver bearing tho latter predomi-
mating, and some Of them very rich. did
rot see Burke while there.
OF Honduras In general Mr.. Raphael saya
Like all tropical countries 1t has It's draw
backs First, the climate Although we were
at an elevation Of 3 600 feet aud 200 miles
from tho coast, the changes during the TWEEN.
ty-four hours were Mt times Sery severe
During our winter months 1t will probably
average S. dess. frEn q. IN. to II p. IN. Az
tho sun lowers a cool breeze comes from tho
mountains, followed by heavy mist, which
chils one through. Tho thermometer drops
before midnight to Is dogs. and several times
dropped to "a dogs.
The hoiscs arc made OF MUD mot adobe.
The roofs are made of tiles ~ laid Us to keep
out only the sun and tho rain, but with doors
and windows closed the wind will sometimes
blow out candle placed In tie middle Of
toom Underclothes taken off ut night will
be saturated in the morning. There Is no
use making fire, as the heat all goes through
the basket work roof Besides, 1t must l,e
Null, on the floor in the middle of the room,
and the heat seems to draw every insscs
within forty yards into the house. There h
not 5 per cent Of the population free from
chills and fever, and 1t strikes one pretty
lively down there. A great portion Of tho
people sleep In bammocks, others on raw
hides stretched on frame. This style OF bed
can got harder ind keep colder before morn.
ing than the lining of All ice box. Not evea
the poores, will sleep on the ground.
Tho insects are various, vicious and ve,i-
omous. The scorpion is very plentiful, aud
builds its nest in the tiles of the roof. 1t kees
wnrm and quiet during tho day, aud ut night
prowls around, and, getting numhel with
cold loses its grip, and quite too often con-
trives to fall onto or !;.to tho bed Then
there is music. They are much larger than
ours-Inore than twice tbs siz,--but are not
considered dangerous T., adults. The chill.
dren go into commissions from the pain Of tina
sting, and it Is % severe sometimes AZ to
cause death 1t depends ca wha: portion Of
the body is stuns.
The cassampulga is II small black spider,
with red spots and stripes and it is greatly
feared by every one. Its bite is Invariably
fatal il not attended To at once. The nea,1la,
or jigger, is the chap that lays It's eggg under
the skin Of tho toes, and in three days its
nest, OF which 1t is the center, ia AS big as
buckshot Its presence is known by q slight
itching; thon the skin must be carefully
raised and laid back with needle polut aud
the little sac removed without breaking L.
1t looks like grain Of barley. and leaves q
clean cut round hole to the flesh which viii
I've healed the day following. II the FAC b
broken, and any of the eggs left, US Is often
the case, it is sometimes weeks before the
person is able to walk, and the sting mus, b
carefully attended to-
There are species Of flea brought about the
doorway Of the houses by hogs. who are ofton
rendered unfit for food from tho ravages OF
this little pest. | have seen them with bota
toes of the hind foot almost eaten away. The
most dreaded Of all the snakes Is one about
twenty four inches long and as thick as a big
sausage. 1t Is of bright green and notified
with brown 1t ia called tamagas. 1t Is also
very pugnacious chap
The men cultivate corn and sugar cane,
aud the women and children 20 each dry into
the hills to wash gold with variable LUCK
Sometimes woman will make 81, and often
when they strike gold gravel it Is not I'M
usual for them to make Is in few hOura
As may be supposed, poverty Is practically
unknown. Besides, they have at their do.r,
In almost every garden, bananas, pineap pla
oranges, coffee, and great variety OF fruits
not known in this country.-San Antonio
Cor. st. Louis Globe Democrat.