BELIZE RIVER. 



least of its tributaries rises in the Kepublic of Guatemala. At 

 the junction of its branches, near the frontier, is the small 

 settlement, called the Cayo, which, as being the nearest station 

 in British territory to Guatemala, is likely to become a place of 

 considerable importance. Pit-pans, or shallow river boats, can 

 pass from Belize to the Cayo, and often by these means English 

 goods of considerable value are brought up and supplied to 

 Peten and other places across the frontier. 



The upper portions of the valley of the Belize River widen 

 into broad expanses of rich fertile plains, some 30 or 40 

 miles across. 



Along the whole course of the Belize Eiver there are numerous 

 mahogany works, or "banks," where logs are collected and 

 trimmed before being despatched to the depdt at Belize. Next 

 to the Cayo, Orange Walk (Old River) is the most important 

 settlement. Here, and generally in the upper portions of the 

 river, the banks on both sides are very high and generally 

 covered with umbrageous figs, the fine-leaved prickly bamboo 

 (Guadua), or tall, rank-growing sedges and canes. Close to 

 the water's edge is a beautiful white-flowered Pancratium, or 

 Caribbean lily. At Never Delay the banks are about 40 feet 

 high, composed of a yellowish clay. At Rock Dondo is a huge 

 mass of porous limestone in the middle of the river ; and a little 

 below, at Middle Station, are the upper rapids or falls which 

 restrict the navigation to craft drawing only a few inches of 

 water. The " Big Falls," a little lower down, during certain 

 seasons, are rather formidable rapids, which require the utmost 

 care on the part of loaded pit-pans to pass safely up and down. 

 " Two-headed Cabbage " is the name of a landing, supposed to have 

 been given on account of a cabbage palm having developed a 

 branching stem, an anomaly w r hich occurs somewhat rarely 

 amongst coco-nut palms. All along the banks of this river 



