JOHN YOUNG'S PINE-RIDGE. 41 



Provided with police-horses for riding, and a pack horse to 

 carry our luggage and camping material, we started from Belize 

 about 2 P.M. on the 24th November. The party consisted of 

 Mr. Williamson and myself, Mr. Gillett, a mahogany cutter, my 

 collector, and Mr. Williamson's servant. 



We took, in the first instance, the road over the Haul-over, 

 and crossed the town branch of the Old River by a ferry. After 

 passing along the new road through the swamp, we came to 

 Cramer's Bank, used as a cattle pen. To get to the new road 

 leading from Belize to the western frontier, we had to go over a 

 bridge three-quarters of a mile long, which carried the road over 

 the Sibun Swamp. 



Owing to the boggy nature of the ground, the pillars of the 

 bridge had sunk in several places, so that the structure presented 

 a somewhat uneven, if not a dangerous surface, especially for 

 the passage of horses. By leading the animals carefully and 

 slowly along we managed, however, to cross the swamp without 

 a mishap. We then found ourselves on John Young's Pine 

 Kidge. It was our intention to cross the pine ridge, and to stop 

 for the night at Butcher Burn's Bank, on the Sibun Eiver. 



Owing to rain and darkness overtaking us, we were unable to 

 strike the right track, and eventually had to camp out in the open. 

 But for the rain, sleeping out at night is nothing unusual ; but 

 this time we had many disadvantages to contend against, all 

 of which, however, were endured without a murmur, hoping that 

 the next day would find us well on our journey, and sheltered 

 from wind and rain. 



Making an early start, we found the rain of the previous 

 night had flooded many portions of the pine ridge, and we did 

 not reach Butcher Burn's Bank until about 11 o'clock. 



It is evident that to reach this place the previous day, we 

 should have left Belize early in the morning; but the heavy 



