apkil— june, 1857.] Observations 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 slave-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 the Maya and Mosquito languages 

 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 page 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 hy G. it. Porte it. 



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 



