Chapter II: Preface

THE very generous reception accorded “Mexico and Her People of To-day,” by both public and press, has led the author to believe that there is a field for a book upon a part of Central America covered by him in his travels, prepared on the same general lines as that book, and treating of the people and their customs, as well as the country, its resources and present state of development. There is also the belief in the mind of the author that the English-speaking people of America are becoming more and more interested each year in the “other Americans,” those who speak the Latin tongues; but who proudly call themselves “Americans” also, and are as proud of the New World as those of Anglo-Saxon birth. This is his explanation, or apology, for giving to the public another book, which he hopes will receive as kindly a welcome as its predecessor.

This book is not the result of hurried preparation, and its faults, whatever they may be, are not the result of hasty compilation. Following a tour through Guatemala and Honduras a careful reading of the available literature upon those countries has been made, and the work of preparation has spread over a period of almost two years. Care has been taken that the statements herein made should be true to the facts, and reliable. The publishers have done their part well in their efforts to make the book attractive and pleasing to the eye, and an ornament to the library. It is hoped that the wide range of subjects will render the volume of interest and value to anyone interested in the countries described.

The author desires to express his acknowledgment of obligation to Mr. I. W. Copelin for the use of a number of photographs taken by him during a recent visit to Guatemala; also to the publishers of the World To-day and Leslie’s Weekly, for permission to use material and photographs which had first appeared in their publications.

TOLEDO, OHIO, June, 1909.

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. TOLTEC LAND 1

II. FROM OCEAN TO OCEAN 16

III. THE CAPITAL 54

IV. THE TROPICS AND THEIR 81
DEVELOPMENT

V. THE PEOPLE 109

VI. RAILWAYS AND THEIR ROUTES 132

VII. THE ANCIENTS AND THEIR 149
MONUMENTS

VIII. THE STORY OF THE REPUBLIC 165

IX. RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES 202

X. PRESENT CONDITIONS AND FUTURE 218
POSSIBILITIES

XI. BRITISH HONDURAS 235

XII. REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS 245

APPENDICES 281

INDEX 303

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

PRESIDENT CABRERA _Frontispiece_

MAP OF GUATEMALA iv

LAKE AMATITLAN; WITH THE VOLCANOES OF 6
AGUA AND FUEGO

LANDING AT CHAMPERICO 19

THE VOLCANO AGUA 29

OX-CART AND NATIVE DRIVER 30

JOURNEYING ACROSS COUNTRY BY MULE 34

SCENE AT EL RANCHO 40

A VILLAGE NEAR THE COAST 45

PLANTATION HOUSE ON LAKE IZABAL 47

LAKE IZABAL 48

A STREET OF ANTIGUA WITH THE VOLCANO OF 56
AGUA IN THE BACKGROUND

THE OLD CHURCH OF EL CARMEN, GUATEMALA 58
CITY

THE CATHEDRAL, GUATEMALA CITY 60

A TYPICAL STREET IN GUATEMALA CITY 62

THE PRESIDENT’S GUARD OF HONOUR 64

TEATRO COLON, GUATEMALA CITY 67

A BULL-FIGHT IN GUATEMALA CITY 68

GUATEMALAN MARKET WOMEN 74

STATUE OF BULL, GUATEMALA CITY 77

GRAN HOTEL, GUATEMALA CITY 78

STREET CAR IN GUATEMALA CITY 80

AN INDIAN WITH HIS _MACHETE_ 84

A TROPICAL JUNGLE 86

A NATIVE HUT 93

A SUGAR PLANTATION 97

DRYING COFFEE 105

A MILL FOR HULLING COFFEE 106

INDIAN GIRL WITH WATER JAR 116

A CARGADOR ON THE ROAD 123

PLAYING THE MARIMBA 125

A GROUP OF CARIBS 128

A SCENE ALONG THE OCCIDENTAL RAILWAY 136

A WATERFALL NEAR ESCUINTLA 138

SAN JOSE, THE PORT OF GUATEMALA CITY 140

THE WEEKLY TRAIN ON THE GUATEMALA 142
NORTHERN

A BELLE OF PUERTO BARRIOS 146

ONE OF THE COLUMNS AT QUIRIGUA 156

INDIAN GIRL 166

A PEON 179

J. RUFINO BARRIOS 190

DUGOUT CANOE ON THE MONTAGUA RIVER 230

A POLICEMAN OF BELIZE 236

ENGLISH HOMES AT BELIZE 239

A STREET IN BELIZE 242

THE HONDURAS NAVY, THE _TATUMBLA_ 249

PUERTO CORTEZ 250

A TYPICAL BEGGAR 269

SOLDIERS OF HONDURAS 272

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GUATEMALA