352 PLANTING ENTEBPBISE IN THE WEST INDIES. [^Iabch, 



The most important, as well as the richest river valley in the Colony 

 is that of the Old Kiver, sometimes called the Belize Eiver. This 

 extends in a wide sinuous course from the town of Belize at the sea 

 coast to the Western frontier. In the upper portion Sj the valley 

 widens into broad expanses of rich fertile plains covered by cohune 

 palm, in some cases thirty or forty miles in breadth. I carefully 

 examined this district, and worked my way to the frontier station — 

 the Cayo — near which a coffee plantation has recently been estab- 

 lished. With the exception of some six sugar estates, and the same 

 number of banana plantations, this coffee plantation is the only 

 attempt hitherto made to establish a systematic course of culture in 

 the Colony, the bulk of the people being employed, and the chief trade 

 of the Colony depending upon mahogany and logwood cutting, which 

 when good prices are ruling, are apparently very remunerative 

 industries. 



In the forests of the western districts I found the rubber-tree of 

 Central America {Castilloa elastica) very abundant. This tree (a 

 member of the Breadfruit family) is specially suitable for cultivation, 

 on account of its preferring a loamy, sandy soil ; and being a deep 

 feeder it might be utilised as a shade tree in cultivated areas with 

 great advantage. Trees at ten years old yield from four to seven pounds 

 of rubber, which is valued at from 2s. 3d. to 3s, per pound. If carefully 

 managed, the trees can be tapped every three or four years. 



Another interesting plant, found wild in these forests, was the 

 indigenous cacao of Central America : this differed from all kinds I 

 had met previously. After careful inquiry, I found that it was the 

 Tampasco cacao of the Atlantic slopes, and identical with the cele- 

 brated Socunusco cacao of the Pacific coast. In habit and character 

 the trees approach those of the Cacao Criollo, and an examination of 

 the pods, which are of a golden-yellow colour, led me to the conclusion 

 that this Tampasco, or ' Socunusco ' cacao, is the yellow form of the 

 celebrated ' Caracas ' cacao. Should such prove to be the case, 

 there is little doubt that this yeUow variety will prove as much 

 superior to the red (Caracas) form, as the yellow Forastero does to the 

 red (Trinidad) cacao. 



Many other interesting plants of timber and dye woods, as well as 

 of plants of medicinal and economic value, were met, many of which 

 I have no doubt are capable of being utilised both in British Honduras 

 and in otherBritish possessions. 



With regard to the climate of British Honduras, to which I have 

 already made a passing reference, there is no doubt in my mind that 

 it has been greatly maligned. Belize, the capital, being surrounded 

 by mangrove swam]3S, 'is possibly the least healthy part of the 

 colony.' On the gradually rising ground of the interior the climate 



