Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-31
RICH FORESTS OF MAHOGANY,
Princely Fortunes Very Quickly
Accumulated.
Origin and Wealth of Central
American City.
An Interesting Description of the Eng
lish System as Practiced by the
Mahogany Cutters In
Honduras.

The republic of Honduras, as well as
the territory known as Belize, or British
Honduras, has long been celebrated fol-
its forests of mahogany.
Belize, the capital of the British pos
sessions in Central America, now city
of considerable commercial Importance,
owes its origin and wealth to the ma.
hogany cutters. During the past hall
OF the present century, princely fortunes
were quickly accumulated in the bus.
mess, especially by those who had
the good fortune to secure con-
tracts from the English govern
ment for the mahogany in form
er times largely employed in naval
architecture. Since iron and steel have
taken the place of wood in the construc.
tion of vessels, the mahogany trade has
decreased to notable extent, although
it is still large and profitable. The ex-
pense and difficulty of getting out the
wood has greatly increased, as but COM
paratively few trees can now be found
near to the banks of rivers and streams
| having sufficient water to float the logs
| to the coast
In Spanish Honduras, and especially
in that part of the republic known as
the province Of La Mosquitia, washed on
its coast line by the Caribbean sea, there
are still forests, abounding in mahogany
and other precious woods where, un-
doubtedly, foreign industry and capital
may be safely and proftably employed.
The rude and primitive system of ma
nipulating the mahogany, still practiced
by the English, in telling the trees, and
in hewing, hauling, rafting and embark
ing the logs, would be discarded by
Americans, who would naturally adopt
modern improvements and inventions,
and thereby accomplish more work in
the same time, with much less labor and
expense.
A brief description of the English
system as practiced by the ma
hogany cutter in Honduras, may
be found interesting. Having selected
and secured suitable locality, and ar
ranged with one of the exporting houses
of Belize to advance the means.
provisions and cash to carry on
the works, the mahogany cutter
| hires his gang of laborarsfer .lae s.ase-...
Nearly all labor contracts are made DUR
ing the Christmas holidays, as the gangs
from the mahogany works all congre-
| gate in Belize at that time. The men
are hired by the year at wages
ranging from $12 to 500 per month, and
they generally receive six months' pay
in advance, one-half of which is in
goods. from the house furnishing the
capital. The cash received is usually
wasted in dissipation before the city ia
left. Early in January the work
is commenced. Camps, or "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 thatched
| with palm leaves are erected for the
laborers, and substantial building for
the store and dwelling Of the oversee-.
The workmen are divided into gangs,
and captain, whose principal duty it
is to give to each man his daily
properly done, is appointed over
each gang, all work in mahogany cut
ting being done by taske. The best la
borers are out at daybreak, and their
task is generally finished before IL
O'Clock. The rest of the day can be
spent in fishing, hunting, collecting In
| dia-rubber and sarsaparilla, or in work.
ing up mahogany into dories, paddles,
bowls, etc., for all of which ready
market is found. Game and fish are
abundant, the former consisting of two
varieties OF hogs (warree and peccary),
deer and antelopes, tapir (mountain
cow), two varieties of wild tur-
keys, armadillos, Indian rab-
bits, partridges, quail, maccaws,
parrots, and monkeys; the rivers
abounds in excellent fish, and the sup
ply of terrapin and iguana is inexhausti-
Regular rations of four pounds of salt
pork and seven quarts of flour are deliv-
cred to each laborer every Sunday morn
ing, large part of which he saves (be-
cause OF the abundance of game and of
wild fruits), and either sells to his en-
ployer or sends home to his family. The
owner or overseer of mahogany camp
is distinguished parsonage within the
confines of his operations.
lie lives well-often luxuriously-and
has many and varied sources of enjoy
ment. His rustic dwelling in the forest,
Is supplied with every comfort and many
luxurles. He travels up and down the
river in bateau made of mahogany,
and lifted up for his enjoyment and con-
venience, regardless of expense. He
carries everything needful for hunting
and fishing, and his lockers are sup
piled with the choicest viands, wines,
liquors and cigars. His crew consists
OF from twelve to twenty skillful
rowers, generally Indians. cap
tain, a cook and a cabin boy. He
camps out at night on the bank of the
river, where savory dishes which would
puzzle the uninitlated, are prepared for
his meals. No menu is considered COM
plete without entremets of monkey and
iguana, cooked a la creole, which even
the uninitiated pronounce delicious.
The mahogany tree hunter is the most
important and best paid laborer in the
service, for upon his skill and activity
largely depends the success of the sea-
son. Mahogany trees do not grow in
clusters, but are scattered promiscuous-
ly through the forests, and hidden in a
dense growth of underbrueh, vineH
and creepers, and it requires skillful
and experienced woodsman to find
them. No one can make any progress
In tropical forest, without the aid of a
machete, or heavy tusk knife, for he has
to cut his way step by step. The ma
hogany is one of the largest and tallest
OF trees, and the hunter seeking the
highest ground, climbs to the top Of the
tallest tree, and surveys the surround
ling country. His practlced eye