200 MEXICO, CENTEAL AMERICA, WEST INDIES. 



prietors, unwilling or unable to develop the local resources. One land company 

 alone owns over one-third of the colonial domain, although unable to utilise a 

 hundredth part of its property. 



The port of Coroml, or Palmeraie, occupies a favourable position at the mouth 

 of the New River and not far from the Rio Hondo ; it is thus the natural outlet for 

 the timber felled in these two fluvial basins. Corosal has also naturally benefited 

 by the destruction of BacaJar, which was situated some 30 miles to the north-west, 

 on the lagoon of like name. Those who escaped the fury of the Indian rebels 

 emigrated in mass to British territory, and Corosal is now the second town in 

 the English colony, with flourishing sugar plantations, and about 5,000 inhabi- 

 tants, mostly of Spanish speech. The other settlements are mere hamlets or 

 plantations, or else fishing villages such as 8an Pedro, on Ambergris Island, which 

 does some traffic with Belize. The most important p^rts on the coast are Stann 

 Creek and PunUi Gorda, both occupied by Carib settlers, who have cleared large 

 tracts and supply Belize with cattle, fruits, and vegetables. About 700 negroes 

 from the Southern States have also founded the settlement of Toledo, about ten 

 miles south of Punta Gorda, where they are chiefly occupied with sugar -growing. 

 Turneffe has only a single fishing hamlet, though the explorations have shown 

 that it was formerly far more densely peopled. 



Administratiox. 



British Honduras is a Crown Colony, under the direct control of the Home 

 Government, and administered by a Governor, with a legislative council of ten 

 members. The annual budget of over £40,000 consists chiefly of custom-house 

 dues, supplemented by a grant from Great Britain ; a small sum is also raised by 

 the sale of lands at the relatively high price of nine shillings an acre. Few 

 small holders, however, venture to settle in the neighbourhood of the powerful 

 financial companies. Belize and some other ports are occupied by a few troops 

 from Jamaica. In 1872, they were called upon to protect the frontier against an 

 incursion of the Maya Indians. The blacks of Belize enjoy the privilege of self- 

 government, electing a "queen," who is enthroned with great pomp, and to w^hom 

 thev submit all their little differences. 



