CHAPTER Iir. 



BRITISH HONDURAS (BELIZE). 



^ HIS colonial territory, one of the lea'^t important in the vast 

 British Empire, is, geographically speaking, nothing more than a 

 section of Yucatan, conventionally severed from the peninsula. 

 On the north, however, the frontier towards Mexico is distinctly 

 marked by the southern shores of Chetumal Bay, tmd by the 

 course of the Rio Hondo. Southwards the Rio Sarstun (Sarstoon) has been 

 chosen as the political boundary as far as the so-called Gracias-à-Dios rapids. 

 From this point an arbitrary parting-line runs nearly north to Gaibutt's Falls on 

 the Rio Viejo (Mopan, or Belize), and is continued thence to the Rio Hondo. 

 This line, laid down by the treaty of 18(d0, but not actually surveyed, is assumed 

 very nearly to coincide with 89*^ 30' west longitude. 



Physically an integral part of Yucatan, this region was also politically regarded 

 as within the Spanish main ever since the year 1506 or 1508, when its shores 

 were visited by Yafiez Pinzon and Juan Bias de Solis. But towards the close of 

 the seventeenth centur}^ some English corsairs seized the island of Carmen, which 

 half closes the entrance to the Terminos lagoon on the opposite side of Yucatan. 

 In 1717 they were driven from their stronghold by a Spanish flotilla, and then 

 took refuge on the east coast of the peninsula ; here they founded a settlement, 

 which, from the name of their leader, was known as Wallace, a terra afterwards 

 corrupted by the Spaniards to Bclice or Belize. In this outlying station, far 

 removed from the centre of Spanish authority, they easily held their ground, and, 

 with the aid of the Indians and half-caste negroes, even overran the surrounding 

 districts. But in 1730 an expedition was sent against them, which seized their 

 boats, and fired their cabins and the piles of logwood collected on the beach. 

 After the departure of the Spaniards, the English settlers returned from the 

 forests where they had taken refuge, and reoccupied the place. 



Again expelled by a second expedition, they again returned, erected fortified 

 posts at the entrances of all the rivers, and remained henceforth free from all 

 attack. By the treaty of Paris of 1765 they acquired the right to hold peaceful 

 possession of the territory already occupied, but only for the purpose of working 

 the surrounding forests, and trading in the timber and other natural produce. 

 Their forts and palisades had to be razed, all permanent agricultural settlements. 



