Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-09-21

81 81 propriate name for that coun-
try of hills and valleys. II Is
III ~ said that Las Honduras (The
Depths) is the name given the
country by the Spanish Conquistadores
In their march northward during their
conquest of Central America-proba-
bly, SO named for the difficulties en-
countered in making trail over the
mountains.
Entering the republic on the Pacific
or south side, we landed at Amapala.
a well-protected port situated on lei
Tigre island In the Bay of Fonseca.
There is only a short wharf at ANA
pala to accommodate vessels of light
draught. SO we we're hustled into a
canoe and rowed to the wharf by ma
tive boatman. Here we were set upon
by a throng of natives ranging from
small boys to gray-haired men. every
one of whom wished to carry our bag
gage to the hotel. After much bicker-
ing, one youth agreed to carry all our
bundles, fifteen in number, from the
wharf TO the custom house and thence
10 the hotel for 2ia pesos, the equiva-
lent of one dollar in our coin. and the
bargain was made.
We found the hotel to be a two
story wooden structure. old, dirty and
Infested with rats. bedbugs and other
vermin. In settling for our meals we
were obliged to change some of our
money for the coin OF the country, and
received two and one-hAlf for one, one
peso being worth approximately AZ
cents United States coin
We next entered a gasoline launch
for the trip To San Lorenzo, the main
land port of Honduras in the hay oi
Fonseca. We wound our way through
channels between the heavy ever
glades. twisting anu turning until
wondered at our boatman's being able
to find the way at all In places W.
entered lanes where the trees would
approach one another till only few
feet of water remained on either sld'
of the boat, only to emerge into oper
water again and perhaps to be startled
by the sudden rising OF a flock o.
cranes or aigTets.
Arriving at San Lorenzo we found
a fiatboat unloading provisions ant
merchandise for the San Rosario mine
at San Juancito, 100 miles away. These
supplies were loaded upon heavy bull
carts of crude construction; the
wheels were of solid wood four inches
in thickness and about three feet In
diameter. The oxen were hooked tC
the pole of the cart by curious
wooden yoke which fits upon the heads
of the beasts and is lashed there with
buckskin thongs and rags. II Is very
crude method of yoking oxen, but II
Inyariable throughout Central Ameri
ca.
After partaking of a breakfast Of tor
tillas, honey, turtles egg and chicken
we we're informed that our beasts wer'
waiting to take US TO the capital, TIE
gucigalpa. We found awaiting US th'
uoorest and scrawniest lot Of stocl
that have ever had the misfortune tC
encounter. and the saddles simply beg
cared description; some were discard
ed cavalry saddles of antique design
some were old Spanish saddles anc
some were simply pieces OF stin cos
hide stretched over wooden frames
However. we mounted and set oui
pnon our way northward. The road
lies over a succession Of rolling hills
covered with a beautiful growth oil
tropicaI verdure. Cattle and hogs ol
Inferior breeds were scattered through
the country and paid no attention &c
as as we passed by
Al irregular intervals we passed ma
tive huts by the roadside, some built
NJ vertical poles set upright a few
inches apart, and matched with palm
caves or monkey tail. sort OF thick
Jungle grass; others u adobe with red
slav tile roofs. These huts OF the poor
ar neople have only the earth for
aoors and the furniture seldom com
nriaes more than table and chair
or two. The poorer ones seldom see
and money and the commodities are
exchanged by a system Of barter
Hence we see a few scattered mil
mas" or crops Of corn or sugar cane
seldom exceeding couple OF acres II
extet,., while underbred cattle and
stock Craze over leagues of as rich az
ricultural soil as Is found anywhere
in the world. We stopped at one Of
two Of the huts for a lunch. but the
best to b. had was a tortilla. piece
OF curd, a banana or plantain.
The capital with It's enyirous boasts
10000 inha bitants. and is built aione
the lines laid down by the Spanish oc
cupants-narTow streets. adobe houses
with thick waIl8. embrasured windows
and heavlly-barred doors. The Rio
Grande de Tegucigalpa flows through
the city and divides it into two sec
lions. the capital proper and Comya
guela, the poorer section. On the high
bank OF the capital side and at one
end OF the large concrete bridge when
spans the river. is situated the palace
Of The president. threestory frame
blilding. at every entrance to which
- stationed an armed sentry solemniy
pacing back and forth in the goose
step" OF the German army. ON the
a. h.. A mo ~