THE KINGDOM OF GUATEMALA. 
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rises near Tactic, and is a foaming torrent for much of 
its course in Alta Verapaz. At Pansos the waters are 
navigable for light-draft steamers, except in very dry 
seasons; and not far below, its volume is materially 
increased by the Cahabon. It flows through the Lake of 
Izabal, and, as the Rio Dulce, empties into the Gulf of 
Amatique over a bar of sand. The Motagua is nearly 
parallel to the Polochic, and rises near Santa Cruz del 
Quiche. From Gualan it is navigable in canoes. Smaller 
streams are the Ulua, Aguan, and Segovia in Spanish 
Honduras, which are navigable for pitpans. Finally we 
have the San Juan, known as one of the elements of the 
“ Nicaragua Canal” route, but not at present navigable 
for boats of any size. 
All the rivers of Central America that can be used for 
commerce require a special river service; for wherever 
the depth of water is sufficient, the always-present bar 
cuts off access to vessels drawing more than six feet. 
Should the development of the country warrant it, the 
bar of the Rio Dulce could be deepened sufficiently to 
admit vessels drawing ten or fifteen feet. 
Small lakes are common enough in the northern part 
of Central America. The Laguna del Peten is about five 
hundred feet above the sea, nine leagues long and five 
broad. The Lago de Atitlan, in the Department of 
Solola, is sixteen and a half miles long from San Lucas 
Toliman to San Juan, and eight miles wide from San 
Buenaventura to Canajpu, and soundings show a depth 
of a thousand feet. With the Laguna de Amatitlan, this 
will be described in the Itinerary. Of Honduras, the 
chief lakes are the Laguna de Caratasca, or Cartago, 
close on the Atlantic coast, thirty-six miles long by 
