1890.] .. Geography and Travel. 941 
We embark, and though we are strangers to the Hondurian people, 
we receive at nearly every step marked attention and proofs of Central 
American politeness. 
Our kind host is not satisfied with offering us all that his house 
affords. He asks us to accept with his **a la disposicion de Vm,”’ any- 
thing that he imagines has attracted our attention, I have no doubt 
our host means to be sincere (?) in his offer, but we would most likely 
seriously grieve him in accepting his numerous extravagant tokens of 
hospitality. Most of the Hondurians are of good and noble character, 
hospitable and charitable toward sick people, as I myself once had an 
opportunity of learning. On my journey from the interior towards 
the north coast I was attacked with fever, when thirty miles from the 
nearest habitation. 
A ride of thirty miles a day in a country which has no roads, but 
only paths over high mountains and thickly overgrown plains, is a 
fatiguing task, and more so for one who is sick. I arrived late at a 
ouse, asked permission to enter, which was cheerfully granted me, 
and during a severe illness of seven days I was carefully nursed and 
provided with native remedies for my complaint. 
Leaving the hut and its charitable and hospitable inhabitants, I 
asked permission to offer, beside my thanks, a small amount of money 
to remunerate them for their expenses and time, but scarcely could in- 
duce them to accept money. ‘‘Senor Estrangero "' (stranger), said 
the old Indian woman, ‘‘ we have given you shelter because you have 
needed it; we have nursed you to restore your health, but not to have 
the holy duty of charity made a profitable business to us. We must 
refuse your money, and are contented with your thanks." A woman 
who takes care of a sick person is called ** mujer de Dios’’ (woman 
of God). If she needs herbs or food for her patient, any one will 
furnish them to her, and the few words, ‘‘Soy mujer de Dios ” (I am 
a woman of God), are more powerful in securing aid for her than 
money. 
Life and property are well secured in Honduras. Speaking from my 
own experience, I never had the least difficulty in my travels through 
this country, and although I carried sometimes a considerable sum of 
money, I never wasattacked or robbed. On the road I often met men 
carrying a large amount of crude silver and gold from the mines 
towards the capital and the coasts. Frequently they were not even 
armed, and, nevertheless, I never heard that the carrier was plundered 
or had absconded. The Hondurian is, as a rule, indolent, as a result 
of the abundant products of nature, which furnish him all he needs 
Am. Nat.—October.—5. 
