42 BKITISH HONDURAS. 



rain, and the difficulty in crossing the Sibun Swamp, had upset 

 our calculations. 



The Sibun Eiver rises on the northern slopes of the Cocks- 

 combs, far to the south. Its mouth is near Wagner village, some 

 10 miles below Belize. In the interior, it passes through a 

 considerable extent of hilly country, with limestone rocks, 

 forming sharply- pointed peaks and ridges, giving a picturesque 

 character to the scenery. At the foot of these hills the soil is 

 remarkably deep and rich, and with a good water-way for 

 produce, and its proximity to Belize, this district will no doubt 

 soon attract attention. 



After leaving Butcher Burn's Bank, we once more struck 

 across John Young's Pine Eidge, this time going due north and 

 making for Gale Creek, a tributary of the Old Eiver. 



After travelling for some hours, during which I managed to 

 gather numerous orchids and seeds, we entered an old and very 

 much overgrown track in a cohune ridge, which was intended 

 to take us to Beaver Dam. After crossing with considerable 

 difficulty one or two swampy creeks, and cutting our way 

 through tangled masses of " tie-ties " and fallen trees, rain and 

 darkness once more overtook us, and we camped for the night 

 on the banks of Gale Creek. With some difficulty, owing to the 

 damp character of the brushwood, we managed to make a fire to 

 cook our supper, and although the place was swarming with 

 mosquitoes, and heavy showers fell during the night, we managed 

 to get a little rest. 



We were early on foot the next morning, to make arrange- 

 ments for a long stage to Castile Bank and Orange Walk. The 

 cohune ridge through which we passed was full of numerous 

 orchids and aroids hanging in festoons from the trees. As most 

 of the mahogany had been cut some years ago, the trees left 

 were small and undersized, but the indications of the soil were 



