Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-03-14
HOME AGAIN.
Sam Burnsides Returus from
Central America and Talks
Entertainingly Of the Peo
pie and the Country.

Mr.. Sam Burnsides, who has Just
returned from an extended trip in Cen.
tIal America, gives an interesting ac-
count of his experiences while absent
Early last November Mr.. Burnsides
| sailed from New Orleans and after an
uneventful, IL somewhat distressing
voyage, landed at Porto Cortez. a
small town on the east coast of Hon.
| duras.
The railroad--in short, the entire
railway system of Central America.
is still in its infancy and Inadequate
for long journeys across the country
Consequently most of the trip was ac-
complished on muleback, those ami.
mails being preferred to horses on ac.
count OF their sure-footedness.
In general. the state consists of
high land in the center, with strips
Of marshy soil on either side, some.
times sandy toward the coast. The
climate Of the lowlands is much more
extreme. being both hotter and cold.
er than in the mountains. vegeta-
ton is very luxuriant, the under
growth being extremely dense In the
rainy season. Mr.. Burnsides SAYS
the palm forests are magnificent. some
OF the trees reaching height of for.
ty or fifty feet
The mahogany trees are usually
found on somewhat higher ground.
cutting down these trees and prepar-
ing them sor shipment forms an ex.
tensive industry In the lowlands of
Honduras. All of the tropical vege-
tables and fruits may be grown there.
besides others with Spanish names
FOR which we have no English equiv.
alent. That Is where the person not
speaking Spanish Is at a disadvant.
age. There are such numbers OF
strange things for which there are no
corresponding English equivalents.
The Understanding names are dIfi.
cult to remember when heard by n
tranger to the language.
In the mountains the climate is very
mild 1t is never very cold, while
In the hottest part of the season the
temperature rarely exceeds S5. While
the peaks are not as high as our Rock
les. they are extremely sharp and Jag.
ged
Travelling In the mountains is very
hazardous. The trails are rarely
more than foot wide, and wind gen
orally around the very edges OF the
cliffs. where a false step would send
mule and rider to destruction.
While not so dangerous, travelling
through the lowlands has its dsad-
vantages. There are no roads. no
bridges. 10 hotels. On account OF
the marshy character OF the land near
the coast 1t is very sparsely settled.
Farther inland little villages or ham
lets, consisting of dozen houses in
each. are scattered over the country.
These are connected with one anoth.
er by means OF trails.
There are lao accommodations for
travellers. While perfectly willing
to do what is In their power. for the
natives are proverbially polite and
obliging. no one household can pro
vide meal. Tribute is levied upon
every house In the village for the
wherewithal to feed travellers. Your
hostess will get an egg here and tor.
tilla or two there, little coffee yon.
der. or perhaps some palm sprouts for
salad. somewhere else. By and by
meal will be ready.
AS for u place to sleep. perhaps you
can get bunk somewhere, and per
haps not. Most travellers prefer
to carry a hammock with them.
Then the problem Is solved, since
there is never any difficulty in find.
ing Il place to swing 1t.
Mr.. Burnsides states that the mines
are very rich. and in the section he
visited, principally In silver. The
ore runs from 40 to 2.200 ounces to
the ton, At Diamante, mining
camp where he spent some time, an
amalgamating plant has lately been
ments are In progress.
1t was at the little village OF All
eDto. somewhat lower down the mou l..
tain. that Mr.. Burnsides remained
longest. There were no other Amer
| leans save the few men working at
the mine above. Six OF his own coun-
tIymen were boarding at the same
place. II took almost the entire time
of one OF the party to procure enough
food, for the reason that the natives
raise only sufficient food produce for
themselves. and II Is extremely dim.
cult to obtain supplies to any amount.
Flour and American sugar are lux.
uries. Mr.. Burnsides stated that on
one occasion one Of the boys rode IL
miles for 20 pounds OF -four. To OBJ
tain that quantity he bought every
1t In the village. The native sugar