COST OF LIVING. 137 



As regards the prices of the ordinary articles of consumption, 

 bread and rice sell at 3d. per pound ; beef, rather tough, 6d. to 

 9d. per pound ; pork, with a good supply, Qd. to 9d. per pound ; 

 mutton, rather scarce, Is. per pound ; turtle, plentiful, Qd. per 

 pound ; fish, abundant and good, about \d. per pound ; fowls, 

 poor, 2s. each ; turkeys, cheap and good, 3s. each ; ducks, scarce, 

 2s. each. General retail shopping, either in dry goods or 

 preserved provisions, can be done in Belize on a slight advance 

 of prices in England and the States ; in many cases articles 

 can be bought in Belize of better quality and cheaper than in the 

 West India Islands ; while the large and well-built stores " are 

 exceptionally well furnished with all kinds of goods." 



House-rent, in Belize and the larger settlements, ranges from 

 25s. to 6 per month, according to position and accommodation. 



Horses, chiefly raised from Spanish breeds, are moderately 

 cheap ; a good strong pony, admirably suited for threading the 

 bush-tracks and mahogany-truck paths of the country, and 

 crossing creeks, may be had for 25. Bullocks and mules are 

 chiefly used for draught purposes, horses being reserved for 

 lighter work and riding. 



It would appear that all the money of the neighbouring 

 Republics is current in Belize : for Mexican, Guatemalan, and 

 American dollars pass, side by side, with English shillings and 

 half-crowns. Gold is seldom seen. As there is no Bank in the 

 colony, great inconvenience is often felt in keeping and dis- 

 bursing large sums ; as, in the absence of gold and paper money, 

 they usually consist of a wonderful assortment of silver coin. 



The principal and official language of the colony is English. 

 The negroes speak Creole-English, so well known in the West 

 India Islands; the other elements speak Spanish, which is not 

 Castilian ; Maya, the chief language of the Indians ; and Carib. 



As regards religion, there is no established Church; the 



