198 



IvIEXlCO, CENTRAL AMERICA, WEST INDIES. 



it is quite impossible to raise any crops on the flooded or swampy ground in the 

 neigbbourhood, and Belize formerly drew nearly all its provisions from Bacalar 

 in Yucatan, whence they were forwarded by Chetumal Bay. But since the 

 destruction of that place, supplies are drawn from various parts of the seaboard, 

 and especially from the United States across the Gulf of Mexico. Although 

 surrounded by rivers, Belize is unable to procure any water even from the Mopan, 

 and is supplied by cisterns. But while the neighbouring forests abounded in 

 mahogany, campeachy wood and cedar, which were easily floated down in the 



Fig. 84. — Belize and the Cockscomb Moxjntains. 

 Scale 1 : 1,600.000. 



Depths. 



to 5 5 to 50 50 to 500 500 Fathoms 



Fatlioms. Fathoms. Fathoms. aud upwards. 



30 Miles. 



form of rafts, the settlers did a flourishing trade, and grew rich despite the many 

 drawbacks of the position. Now, however, timber of large size has become rare, 

 and the inhabitants, mostly blacks or people of colour, have been compelled to 

 engage in other pursuits, and at present the trade of Belize consists chiefly in 

 produce and wares imported from the United States and Great Britain, which 

 are redistributed amongst the Atlantic ports of Guatemala and Honduras. The 

 local exports are chiefly fruits, and most of the traffic is served by a steamer 

 plying regularly between New Orleans and Belize. 



The population «jf the town has fallen from nearly 11,000 in 1844 to less than 

 6,000 in 1889, and BeKze can scarcely fail to continue to decline whenever more 



