Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-05-13
Ayers Cathartic Pills.


lakes and lagoons are interspersed
throughout the country, some consid-
erable in size, but all magnificent in
appearance.
For scenery Honduras cannot be ex-
celled. At many points along its coast
mountains spring abruptly, as it were,
from the sea to many thousand feet in
height, then gradually disappear to-
ward the inland. The vegetation is
luxuriant, its foliage beautiful. It's
climate though warm can hardly be
described by general statement.
Owing to the varying elevations of its
surface and consequently its expos
ure to the trade winds, which sweep
constantly across the country from
shore to shore, it possesses a variety
of climate, moisture and temperature
almost unequaled elsewhere. Heavy
dews form each night and rain falls
frequently, while snow is totally un-
known to the country. .HThe inhabi-
tants know neither winter nor sum-
mer, the temperature remaining prac-
tically the same throughout the year.
The seasons may be divided into two,
the wet and the dry, each of six
months duration. Unlike many
southern countries, 1t is free from
malignant fevers and on the whole
may be said to be very healthy.
The agricultural resources are as
varied as the topography and climate.
Almost every product that dourishes
in any part of the hemisphere may be
grown within it's boundaries. Along
the coast the chief products are
bananas, cocoanuts, plantains, olives,
oranges, almonds, figs, grapes, etc.
Advancing further back the coffee
plantations are in evidence, while in
traveller is directed to the sugar and
tobacco industries. Cattle raising is
also engaged in by some, the cattle
being of Spanish origin, resembling
somewhat our southwestern cattle.
Il will of course be understood that
these and all other industries are en-
gagged in by a very, very few, and by
these few on a very crude and limited
scale. The few large plantations to be
found in the country are as rule
owned and operated by foreigners.
Constituting very material portion
of the natural wealth of the country
may be mentioned the forestry, the
density of which, without an excep-
tion, is something remarkable. The
mahogany, cedar, pitch.pine, Gala
bash, oak and various dye-woods are
common, while trees producing gums
and medicines, including balsam, cas-
tor oil, gum arabic, sarsaparilla, van
lila, etc., are not less numerous. It is
here interesting to note that num-
ber of these trees musG attain very
old age before they become suitable
for use; for example, the mahogany
tree is said to require an age of 300
years before being used. Within
these thick forests are to found such
game as the deer, tiger, monkey, a
great variety of birds, parrots, etc.
Equally fascinating to the sportsman
are the rivers of Honduras, in whose
waters excellent fishing is to be had.
The mineral resources of the coun-
+, try should also not be overlooked, for
while at the present time the ores to
be found in its mountains, gold, silver,
| quartz, etc., cannot be mined at a
| profit, due to the lack of water supply
and means of transportation, yet at a
future date they promise to play an
important role in its wealth and
development. Indeed, there are at
present quite a number Of foreign
mining corporations in more or less
active operation in the country.
The transportation facilities in Hon
duras are so dreadfully bad and in
adequate as to be said to amount to
none. With the exception of 371s
miles of railroad running out from
Puerto Cortez the country has neither
a steamboat nor railway line. The
burro following the trail over the
mountains and through the valleys is
i IL