HABITAT 



The northern part of British Honduras, between the Rio Hondo 

 and the Rio Nuevo, consists of an almost level plain, having an area 

 of nearly 1,000 square miles. The soil is a vegetal humus, varying 

 from a few inches to several feet in depth, the average depth being 

 about 2 feet; beneath this is a stratum of marly limestone, out- 

 crops of which are found in many places. The southern part of 

 Yucatan, which, unlike the northern part, is comparatively well 

 watered, is also flat, though a few small hills are found along the 

 northern bank of the Rio Hondo, commencing about 50 miles from 



its mouth (fig. 1). Most 

 of the land along the rivers 

 is swampy, producing only 

 reeds, coarse grasses, and 

 mangrove trees. Beyond 

 the swamp country are 

 found ''cuhun ridges," 

 consisting of river val- 

 leys or depressions in the 

 surface which have be- 

 come filled with alluvium 

 brouglit down by the 

 rivers from the interior, 

 forming an exceedingly 

 rich soil suitable for the 

 cultivation of maize and 

 nearly every tropical prod- 

 uct. It is upon these 

 '' cuhun ridges " that most 

 of the mounds and other 

 relics of the ancient in- 

 habitants are found and that nearly all the villages of the modern 

 Indians are built. Large tracts of what is known as "pine ridge" 

 are scattered throughout this area; these are level or slightly undu- 

 lating plains covered with gravel and coarse sand — exceedingly poor 

 soil, producing only wiry grass, yellow pines, and small pimento 

 palms. On these "pine ridges" Indian mounds are hardly ever 

 found, nor do the Indians of to-day build villages upon them except 

 in rare instances and for special local reasons. With the exception 

 of the extreme northern part, nearly the whole of this area is well 

 watered by rivers and streams, while scattered, throughout it are 

 numerous lagoons and lakes, the largest of which is the Bacalar 

 Lagoon. 

 14 



Fig. 1.— Map showing Yucatan, Campeche, British Hondu 

 ras, and part of Guatemala. The area dealt with is shaded. 



