HONDURAS. 43 



northward," says Roberts, " is beautifully diversified by gently-rising 

 hills, valleys, and savannas, and the soil, generally speaking is excel- 

 lent." 



The Patuca offers the only direct and easy route for transpor- 

 tation between the sea and the richest mines ar.d most extensive 

 system of valleys in Honduras. Below the mouth of the Guampu 

 the river is now navigable for steamers of light draft, the only 

 obstacles being a few rocks at one place, some snags which can 

 be readily removed, and three or four sand-bnis mhich htd 

 twelve to sixteen inches of water at the end of the last dry season. 

 These can be quickly dug out or deepened when required, by 

 means with which every man familiar with the management of 

 stern wheel steamers is acquainted. These bars will obstruct 

 navigation only during the lowest stage of water. Three or 

 four hours work and a few dynamite cartridges will suffice for the 

 removal of all the rocks in the way . Not far above the Guampu 

 the current of the Patuca is broken by the Caoba rapids, acd be- 

 yond those it is interrupted by falls at the Campanero, at Puerto 

 del Infierno and at Puerto de Delon, the last two practically im- 

 passable. 



About twenty four miles south from the coast the Patuca 

 approaches within five miles of Tilbalacca lagcon, which con- 

 nects by a wide channel with Gauranta lagoon, and this in its 

 turn with Caratasca lake. From the southwestern corner of Til- 

 balacca a bayou extends toward the Patuca, and from the latter 

 what seems to have once been the bed of the river reaches out 

 toward the bayou. It is generally believed by those acquainted 

 with the locality that the Patuca once flowed into Tilbalacca. It 

 is currently reported that when the river is high the natives pad- 

 dle their canoes across this place from river to lagoon. 



Tibacunta Creek enters the sea about thirty-two miles to the 

 westward of the entrance of Caratasca. It may serve to carry 

 away some of the high water in the rainy season but in ordinary 

 stages of water it will do little if any more than furnish a conven- 

 ient way by which tracts of fruit land s may be reached by boats. 



