CHAPTER II. 



Belize down the Coast. Sibun Eiver. Manattee Bay. Mullin's River. 

 Fruit Companies. Tracts of fine land. Communication by river 

 impeded. Colston Point. North Stann Creek. Commerce Bight 

 coco-nuts. All Pines. Eegalia and Serpon sugar estates. Factory 

 for extracting oil from cohune-nuts. Old saw- mills. Labour for 

 sugar estates. Wages. Journey up Sittee Eiver. Scenery and 

 vegetation. Pit-pan travelling. Forest growth. Lands for bananas, 

 coffee, cacao, oranges. Hell Gates. South Stann Creek. -Monkey 

 Eiver. Spaniards. Creoles. Caribs. "Walize. Fruit Company. Point 

 Ycacos. . Deep Eiver. Port Honduras. Seven Hills district. Sugar 

 estate. Yield per acre. " Fly." Rio Grande Eiver. Toledo Settle- 

 ment* Ponta Gorda. Neat Carib village. Eeturn to Belize. 



WITH the approval of Government, it was decided to visit first 

 the settlements to the south of Belize, which were all within 

 convenient reach by sea and river communication. A small 

 schooner, the " Telegraph," was engaged ; and, in company with 

 Captain Marriner, Inspector of Police, we left Belize, on the 

 morning of the 15th November. 



On account of the numerous reefs which fringe the coast, 

 and run almost parallel to it, at distances varying from 10 to 15 

 miles, the water within is so sheltered that it is generally suit- 

 able for navigation by even the smallest boats. These often 

 travel distances of 150 to 200 miles along the coast, carrying 

 produce to -Belize and taking back English and American goods 

 to the settlements. A good run down the coast, past the mouth 

 of the Sibun River and Manattee Bay, brought us, early the next 

 morning, off the mouth of Mullin's River. Near Manattee Bay, 



