8 
This stream runs for about 150 miles from the western 
boundary of the colony to Belize, on the coast.. About 
30 miles from Belize there are rapids, and other 
rapids are met at frequent intervals in the rest of the 
river. Two great obstructions to navigation have 
been removed, at places known as Little Falls and 
Big Falls, partly by crushing the rocks with a 
specially-designed machine, and partly by blasting. 
In other places rocks have been removed as well as 
snags and overhanging branches. 
Until 1906 goods intended for the western part of 
the colony had to be carried during the wet season 
in pitpans, which generally took three weeks to go 
from Belize to El Cayo. Accidents were frequent, 
and resulted in great loss of goods. Now, during 
eight months of the year, goods are taken up in- 
motor launches, which usually perform the journey in 
two and a-half days, and have done it in 27 hours. 
For eight months of the year about nine launches 
run every week. During the dry season the launch 
carrying the mail runs for about two-thirds of the 
distance, mules carrying the mails tor the rest of the 
way. The improvement that has been effected in 
the river has practically had the effect of opening up- 
new country. 
The New River, in the northern part of the colony, 
has also had obstructions removed from it. 
That part of the colony which is north of Belize 
is for the most part low lying. It is watered by the 
river Hondo, which forms our boundary with Mexico, 
by the New River, which runs through the Corosal 
and Orange Walk districts, and by the Belize river. 
All these rivers are of importance. The Hondo river 
and the New River may be navigated by vessels 
drawing 4 ft. of water for a distance of about 60 
miles. Between Belize and the mouths of these rivers 
vessels drawing as much as 6 ft. of water can navigate 
in sheltered waters, protected from the ocean by coral 
