West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-06-23

tropical forests nilse with illes and
mosquitoes, whose activity was
only equaled by their persistence.
We wrapped our heads in handker-
chiefs. covered our hands with
gloves, and vet there was no escape
from the little pests. We did not
mind the insects so much ss the
torturing fear that the car would
TALL down on us, every joint being
loose and the track to be- com pared
with the worst country road iE West
Virginia. 1t is due that road to
say that since that time 1t has been
placed ia fairly good running
order, and extended some twenty
miles farther into the interior.
At San Pedro Sula our company
three Americans and one Hon
durapean who had lived at Chicag go
foT year-was joined by Frank
Cutler, who had been resident of
Honduras for some years.
We hired mules, some ten or
twelve. and started on our journey
TO the capital. Our baggage was
packed on mule back, and two
natives acted AS guides and mule.
tecrs.
For eight days we journeyed.
stopping at night. at numerous
villages along the route. There
was no beaten road-only n trail
and that frequently unmarked.
nj nj M
along valleys, in sun and rain. we
"plodded our weary way" The
trails have the peculiarly OF going
over the tops OF mountains insCead
of around them. This is because
Of the heavy rains and the couse-
quent washes of mountain sides.
We frequently looked from one
mountain peak to another, across
miles of space, above the clouds
whose traditional "s,lver lining"
became to US visible verify, as
they lay nesting among the tall
pines aud tropical verdure, glitter
ing and glistening under all azure
sky, which, cloudless and spotle. g
spread out above us. Again We
bent our heads close to the ears Of
our faithful and patient mules, to
creep under dense growths of
tropical plants whose spines were
no respectors of mules or man.
native or foreign born. We soon
learned to love the patient donkey.
Seated in the Mexican saddle, from
which one cannot easily fall, loose
rein was given to the sure. footed
beast while he carefully picked his
way over rolling stones, along
preipices. over bridges made Of two
logs laid together. through marshes
and quagmires whose depths were
unknown. aud through rapid and
rocky streams, still greatly swollen
by the winter rains.
At last. on the 30th day of No
vember, 1890. we arrived at Teguci-
galpa, the capital of the Repu bile
OF Honduras, a city Of about 10. 900
INHABITANTS, and were met by q
large concOurse of people, native
and foreign, according to the Gus
tom of the country. We wero es-
corted into the city and to the
principal hotel. as sorry q
looking set of travel worn men as
one may see in lifetime. Twenty.
two dayS had passed since | had
taken the train at Huntington to
"teInpt the unknown and the un-
tried experience of tropical travel. 4"
On December Bird, 1890, | took
official possession of The United
States Consulate, received my com
mission and exequatur, aud be-
cHme~a full-Aedged diplomat, bear
ing on my shoulders all the dignity
and responsibility of the represen-
tatlve of my country in a foreign
land.
The formal visits, and exchan pc
OF official courtesies, being given
and received, the necessary reports
having been dispatched to Wash
ington, long and mourpful letter
being sent home, began to look
around me to discover what kind
OF mortals these people were" and
TO find out "where [ Was ut"
found so many curious and in
teresting things TO observe that
thought OF little else for some
weeks. l WAS practically ignorant
Of the Spanish language, and was
compelled TO use an Interpreter or
talk TO Americans (of whom there
were quite a number there) or, step
out upon the dangerous and diff
cult task Of thinking in English.
translating the thought in my
mind, and expressing myself in
"pig- Spanish" or book Spanish,
as little understood by myself as
by the attentive and courteous
auditor.
found that the capital occu pied
a plane 3,l00 feet above sea level !;
the climate delicious, the tempera-
ture never reaching higher than 90
degrees, or lower than 55 degrees,
Fahrenheit. had not seen one
single snake no tarantula had az
yet stung me no wild beast had
kept me awake at night, prowling