HONDURAS (ante). Tho coast was discovered by Columbus in 1502, and in 1526 the country was invaded and possessed by Cortes, at the head of an army of Europeans and Indians which he brought with hint from Mexico. He founded the towns of Trujillo and Puerto Caballos (now Puerto Cortes). Central America soon afterwards fell under the dominion of Spain, Gracias being the seat of government. In 1822 Hon duras became a part of the Central Amdrican confederation, but asserted its indepen dence in 1839, and for more than twenty years was involved in civil strifes which hindered the development of the country. In 1861 there were attempts at insurrection, by the clergy. These attempts were defeated by president Guardiola, who pardoned all the conspirators and was afterwards assassinated. His successor, Montes, entered into an alliance with San Salvador against Guatemala and Nicaragua, but was defeated in battle, When Medina. one of his own generals, joined the victors and usurped the presidency in 1863. He in turn was deposed in 1872 by Don Celeo Arias, who held the place until Aug., 1875, when Dr. Marco Aurelio Soto was appointed pro visional president; and in May of the following year the latter was elected by the unani mous voice of the people as constitutional president for the term of four years. The internecine strifes, and the wars with neighboring republics which preceded his acces sion to power, had a most disastrous effect upon the country. Industry was prostrated. the schools forsaken, an onerous foreign debt inenrred_and the minds of citizens filled with doubt and apprehension. Since 1876 public confidence has been restored, industry revived, intercourse with other countries extended, highways constructed, bridges erected, and new plans adopted for general education. The public revenue, which under former administrations rarely exceeded $300,000, is now estimated at $800,000 per annum. The population of the country is estimated at 400,000. Tegucigalpa, the capital, has 12,000 inhabitants. The executive power is vested in a president elected for four years, and assisted by a council of state, composed of two ministers appointed by himself, a senator elected by congress, and a judge of the supreme court. The legislature consists of a senate and a chamber of deputies. The judicial power is vested in two chief-justices, one of whom resides at the present, the other at the former cap ital, and in a district judge for each department. These judges are appointed for life by the government; but the justices of the peace, one for each town, are elected for one year by the municipalities. There is a standing army of 1500 men, and a militia of 20,000. Some years since, a combination-of American capitalists was formed to estab lish a banking, exchange, and commission business at the capital, in order to facilitate commerce between the two countries. A railway from Puerto Cortes, on the Atlantic coast, to San Pedro Susa, a distance of about 90 m., has been constructed. It cost $2,000,000, and it has rolling-stock valued at $500,000. More than 1000 In. of telegraph are in operation in the republic. It was reported not long ago that Honduras and San Salvador were making an arrangement to put all the Central American states into tele graphic communication with each other. There are no official returns of foreign com
merce. An extensive fruittrade is carried on between the Atlantic ports of Honduras and New Orleans. which might be vastly increased by employing steamers instead of sailing-vessels. Fruits are abundant and of exquisite quality in the northern coast region and adjacent islands. Large numbers of cattle are annually exported to Cuba. Mahogany, tobacco, hides, sarsaparilla, indigo, and other dye-stuffs, are also among the exports. Coarse woolen stuffs and rude utensils for home use are the only articles of manufacture. Bees are numerous and yield large quantities of honey. Fish in great variety inhabit the rivers and lakes and abound on the coasts. Tarantulas. scorpions. and venomous insects of various kinds infest every part of the country. Alligators and lizards are numerous. The rattlesnake and corral are the only venomous serpents. Locusts are often very destructive. The predatory birds are the hawk, the vulture, and the turkey-buzzard. Aquatic birds are numerous. The face of the country is moun tainous, the highest elevations being 8,000 ft. above the sea. The rivers are numerous, most of them flowing to the Atlantic. The largest of these rivers is the Ulna, which is navigable for 70 m. for steamers of small draft. The Segovia, which forms a portion of the southern boundary, receives its principal waters from Honduras, and has a course of 350 m. through an unbroken wilderness, over a rocky bed, and is broken by rapids which make navigation impracticable. The soil is extremely fertile, and vegetation is luxu riant. The sugar-cane is indigenous, thriving well at elevations of 4.000 ft. above the sea. Coffee flourishes, and tobacco of the best quality is raised. Pimento, capsicum, and other spices are plentiful. Mahogany and rosewood are found in great abundance, as are also many other valuable cabinet woods. The climate is equable on the highlands, but hot on the Caribbean coast, where miasmatic fevers are common. Mining, once the chief business of the country, is now almost abandoned, on account of the great diffi culties in the way of transportation. Silver and gold are abundant, but the mines can not at present be profitably worked. The wars which ravaged the country for so long a time repelled both immigration and capital. So long as the precious metals can be obtained in great abundance in regions where peace and good government prevail, and where railroads afford the best facilities for transportation, men are not likely to seek them in countries torn by civil war, and where the mule is the only carrying agent. In 1878 the government founded a national college and seminary, both of which are under the direction of American teachers. Schools are to be found in every town and village, and in 1878, 25,000 children were attending them. The religion of the country is Roman Catholic, under thejurisdiction of the bishop of Comayagua. Of the 400.000 inhabitants, 205,000 are mestizos, 184,000 Indians, 5,750 whites (descendants of the early Spanish settlers), and 5,250 negroes.