BELIZE, b6-1Ez' (sgmetimes written BELICE or BALIZE), British Honduras, the capital of the colony. Lat. 17° 29' N.; long. 88° 8' W. It has been suggested that the name is derived from the French balise, a beacon, but more probably it is a corruption of Wallace, a Scotch buccaneer named Peter Wallace, with 80 com panions, having erected houses enclosed with a rude palisade at this point after the Spaniards abandoned Bacala, leaving a large part of the rugged, uninviting north coast of the Gulf of Honduras unoccupied, save by freebooters, during the latter half of the 17th century. Ac cordingly the name \Valis, Balis or Belize was applied by the natives and Spaniards to the set tlement, the river on which it was situated and subsequently to the whole region occupied by the English. (Consult Bancroft's 'History of Central America,' Vol. II, p. 624). Wood-cut ting was the chief occupation of the establish ment. The value of the forests attracting other settlers, Belize was attacked by the authorities of Yucatan, who sought to expel them as tres passers in 1733. Various unsuccessful attempts
with the same object were made in subsequent years, the most formidable in 1754. Again in 1779, war existing between England and Spain, the governor of Yucatan organized an expedi tion against Belize; and Spain's last effort to regain possession by force was made in 1798. Before that time the settlers had organized a government. It is an interesting fact that, originating as it did, the town has .become, with its population of more than 5,000, its church, schools and hospital, a centre for the mainte nance of good order. It has the characteristic features of a small English colonial capital the governor's house, etc. Coral reefs form a natural breakwater for the harbor. Large ves sels are loaded and unloaded by means of tenders. Logwood and mahogany are the chief items of trade. Other staple products are bananas, coffee, cacao, plantains, etc. See HON DURAS, BRITISH, and consult works there re ferred to. Pop. 10,478.