xvpAL — JUiNE, 185T.] Ohservations on Cotton. 127 
moved, many of these Indian Yucatecas might be induced to settle 
within the limits of British Honduras, with their whole families, 
and cultivate cotton, rice, tobacco, and sugar with which they are 
already acquainted ; but on which the length of this paper forbids 
me to enlarge at present. 
The great increase of ^lave-grown Cotton in the States, and our 
dependance on it ; the greater strength of their common fabrics, 
and their competition in foreign markets with those of Britain ; 
the yet limited supply obtained from India, the demand for it in 
China, the inferiority of that generally sent, and some of the causes 
of that inferiority ; the advantage gained by the use of the saw 
gin ; the practicability of introducing it and the screw-press along 
the coast of Africa, as a new means of obtaining more tropical 
Cotton ; the capabilities of Honduras and its samples ; and the 
various qualities of difierent seeds, have been thus cursorily glanced 
at, in hope that these topics may receive more attention than it is 
possible to give them on the present occasion. 
Since the above was written the Yucatan Indians have been more 
generally aroused to assert their independance ; already about 4,000 
have betaken themselves to the British Settlement for protection, 
and are engaged in growing Rice and Maize for our Shipping and 
Settlers. (See Honduras Watchman of 15th and 22nd Februry, 
1851). Were the improvement of their native soil sanctioned by 
Her Majesty's Government, an emigration of free aboriginal la- 
bourers would soon resume the production of the Cotton and Cho- 
colate with which they were so familiar when Cortez landed on 
their shores. 
Grammars with Vocabularies of theMaya and Mosquitolanguagea 
now afford means of communication with these tribes ; the Carib 
has had a like service rendered to it in the Settlement, and now 
only waits the means of publication. 
Note to i^ago 124— Directions for Planting Cotton, and preparing it for Ship- 
ment; taken from the Graham Town Journal — For many other useful details 
the reader is referred to the Tropical Agriculturist by G. ii. Porteu. 
COTTON SEED requires a dry soil, and sandy rather than clay; it will 
thrive in a poor soil, but better in good earth. The ground must he of that free 
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