THE SPANISH MAIN TODAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1926, Page 4

THE SPANISH MAIN TODAY.

WHERE THE MEN STILL GARRY GUNS. (By F. A. Mitchell Hedges, who is leading an Exploring Expedition to Honduras). TELA (Honduras), March 2.

The Spanish Main is living up to its traditions. Millions of pounds are being derived to-day from Central America, not in yellow metal wrested from Spanish galleons by the buccaneers, hut from- the rich fertile soil of tho Central American Republics, vast tracts of which are now under cultivation.

Since I landed at Trujillo some years ago from a decrepit 30-tons cockroach infested schooner and penetrated the Mosquitia, across tile bay. Puerto Castilla has arisen under the magic wand of tho dollar.

Wo arrived at Puerto Castilla on board the s.s. Metapan from Jamaica. A long pier has been built on which trains run to tho ship's side. 1 here are engine-driven loaders lor loading bananas into the boats, a hospital, fme offices, a network of railroad lines and a baseball ground. The white employees live in delightful bungalows surrounded by hedges of flowering hibiscus.

The labourers’ quarters arc extensive, comprising streets of small wooden houses raised on wooden piles. Every building throughout the community is painted yellow and lias a red corrugated iron rool. By this sign you know at once that this entire town has been erected and is owned by tho United Fruit Compilin' of Boston (U.S.A.), which is responsible for the greatest pioneer work ever accomplished in the Central American Republics. JUG AMERICAN TRADE.

Millions of bananas come irom this port every year to be distributed throughout Europe, the United States and Canada. We landed here. There were no pipers to iill in, no restrictions, our passports were not looked at. What a contrast to the conditions in Europe and tho United States of America l

Wo received the greatest assistance from the United Fruit Company's officials, and travelled over to Trujillo, about 18 miles away, passing through wonderful country abounding in fan palms. Crossing a picturesque lagoon, wo approached the base r>! the towering hills we had seen in the distance and found, lying at the fool, the little old Spanish town of Trujillo, built between 1500 and 1520.

It had not c’flingcd sinvo I visited it some years ago. The scenery is magnificent; from crest to valley (he great hills are clothed in a solid mass of jungle ■ !' all shades of green, which change continually under the influence of sunshine and cloud effects. You turn your eyes towards (lie sea for perhaps a few minutes, then look once mere at tho hills, and the scene has entirely changed. Now tho pinnacled heights are enveloped in masses of cloud, the rain roars down, and you can hear the rush of the tumbling wafers. Yet there you stand, sweltering glider the tropica! sun, with a cloudless ,sl;,v above. Not a drop of rain falls where you arc, but, the h-: a vans empty on the mould aims and t!v. (lends break un and literally lull down the hillsides. A WILT) WEST SCENE. The first thing that strikes one on entering liny town in the Republic of llonduias is that all the men carry a gun. They love guns out here and use them on the least provocation. As wo strolled round Trujillo, on the ground outside the Cantina (bar) was a group of about fifteen men absorbed in a gambling game, all with guns in belts which fairly bristled with cartridges. It was the real kinematogruph Wild West scene. There is never any evidence of haste or activity out here —it is indeed the land of Manana (toii’.,' Trow.)

(Ins a to Trujillo. slnmliinj; on iho shun‘s ol' tile bay, is iho Carib villayo

of Cristalcs. The Caribs’ dwellings are built exclusively of basketwork sides filled in with mud, the roofs being palm-thatched. _ The natives live entirely by fishing. Life is very easy for them. Nature provides and there is nothing to do but eat. This village is extremely picturesque, with all the Indian huts built ain id tho coconut palms, which grow right to tho water’s edge, and a little river, crystal clear, cutting through the sandy shore into the sea. * A LANGUAGE MYSTERY.

The present C'arib Indians, v. ith their rippling satin skin, dark mahogany in colour, and short kinky hair, are an interesting type. Their origin is very obscure. The original Caribs were a fierce, warlike lacc, raiding and fighing all the other Indian tribes. They conquered the Ar.iwak Indians in tho Lesser Antilles and seized their women and with other tribes of Indians they always adopted the same practice. To this day in many places the Cnrib Indian tribes are remarkable for the fact that the women speak to one another in an entirely different language from that of the men. The men never sneak, and I believe do not know the women’s language.

It is really quite a riddle, as is the origin of tho innumerable Indian tribes in Central and South America. It is a fact known to very few that more different languages are spoken to-day on the American Continent than in the whole of the rest of the world put together.