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NARRATIVE OF A 



aboriginal languages and customs. They even retain 

 some vestiges of their ancient religious rites and supersti- 

 tions, and it requires all the vigilance of the curates to 

 prevent their falling back into idolatry. In Costarica 

 there is a small tribe called the Valientes, who are allowed 

 to retain their independence. They inhabit the woods 

 and forests of that State, but are in constant intercourse 

 with the rest of the population, and are peaceable and 

 honest. The Mosquito Indians, before alluded to, are an 

 ignorant indolent race, settled in the northern coast of 

 Honduras, who in like manner disclaim the authority of 

 the Government, but are, in some sort, under the controul 

 of the English, to whom they are much attached. There 

 are seven Indian languages in Central America, each of 

 which has two or three dialects. The jealousies among 

 the castes are balanced by the aversion of the Indians to 

 the ladinos, while the constitution holds out equal rights 

 and privileges to all. They do not, however, profess any 

 very great affection for the whites, for whom they rather 

 entertain a traditionary or hereditary feeling of dislike or 

 fear, owing doubtless to the servitude and oppression to 

 which they were subjected by the early settlers of the 

 country. 



The territory of Central America is capable of contain- 

 ing an infinitely greater population than that specified in 

 the preceding statement. A large portion of it is unsettled, 

 and in a state of nature. There are vast tracts in the in- 

 terior, enjoying a fine climate and a fertile soil, where the 

 most flattering prospects are held out to foreign emigrants, 

 and where agricultural industry could not fail of reaping 

 an ample compensation. Conscious of this, and of the ad- 

 vantages of recruiting its population from foreign coun- 

 tries, the Government has adopted the policy of encour- 

 aging emigration. But the attempts made towards 

 effecting this object have been hitherto unsuccessful, ow- 

 ing no doubt to the constantly disturbed state of the 

 country and the insecurity of property. 



