Spanish America, Vol. 1 (of 2)Bonnycastle, Richard Henry, Sir
History
Spanish America, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Bonnycastle, Richard Henry, Sir
Latin America -- Description and travel; Latin America -- History
The Mosquitoes who have fallen under the observation of the British
settlers, seem to have no other religion than the adoration of evil
spirits; and their conjurers are in fact the priests, the lawyers
and the judges. Polygamy is practised; and all domestic offices are
performed by the females.
The crown is succeeded to hereditarily, and the king is a despotic
monarch. These people are warlike, keeping the other Indian
nations and their Spanish neighbours, in complete defiance; they
can support hardships and want of food with great heroism; but,
as all savages do, when they can indulge, they place no bounds
to their excesses. The warriors of this tribe are accounted at
fifteen hundred. The mosquitoes annoy these savages, who probably
have received their name from these insects being so plentiful on
the coast; so much, that at particular seasons, they quit their
dwellings, and pass their nights in their canoes.
In Honduras, the rainy season is always accompanied by great
flights of swallows, who remain at night at rest on the great
savannahs or plains, and at sun-rise rush in a body up into the
air, in quest of the flies, their nutriment; at dusk they return,
and a traveller has described the noise which this immense body of
birds make in their flight, as comparable to that of a waterfall.
In the bay, cormorants and pelicans are very numerous, as well as
many other sorts of sea-fowl, attracted by the abundance of fish.
The chief towns of the Spanish part of Honduras, are Valladolid,
the capital, Truxillo, Gracias á Dios, and Omoa.
VALLADOLID, or COMAYAGUAS, is the capital, and is a large and fine
town, in 88° 19ʹ west longitude, 14° 30ʹ north latitude, on the
banks of a river which falls into Honduras bay. It is said that
there are rich silver mines in the vicinity of Valladolid; this
city is the residence of the intendant, and the see of a bishop,
who is styled Bishop of Honduras.
TRUXILLO is situated on a hill near the sea, and in Truxillo bay;
this sea-port has very often been ravaged by the Dutch and British;
it is at present a place of little account, though made, by some
writers, the capital; and is in 15° 51ʹ north latitude, and 86° 8ʹ
west longitude. Truxillo is ninety miles north of Valladolid.
GRACIAS Á DIOS, is on the bay of Honduras, at the mouth of a small
river; and there are said to be some gold mines in its vicinity. It
is in 14° 30ʹ north latitude, and 90° 6ʹ west longitude.
OMOA, or ST. FRANCISCO DE OMOA, is situated in 15° 50ʹ north
latitude, 89° 53ʹ west longitude, and is a strongly fortified
sea-port. The treasure and valuable commodities of Guatimala are
received here to be embarked; and the European trade of the kingdom
carried on through this port, which is so important as to be called
the key of Honduras.
_PROVINCE OF COSTA RICA._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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