CHAPTER XXIX.

THF PEOPLE OF HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA.

1800-1887.

AMALGAMATION IN HONDURAS POSSIBLE WAR OF RACES XICAQUES AND

PAYAS ZAMBOS OR MOSQUITOS PURE AND BLACK CARIES DISTINGUISH
ING TRAITS LADINGS THEIR MODE OF LIFE GUATEMALA AND HER PEO
PLE DIFFERENT CLASSES THEIR VOCATIONS IMPROVED CONDITION OF
THE LOWER CLASSES MESTIZOS PURE INDIANS LACANDONES WHITE
AND UPPER CLASS MANNERS AND CUSTOMS PREVAILING DISEASES EPI
DEMICSPROVISION FOR THE INDIGENT.

IN Honduras, the amalgamation of races has almost

O whites from blacks.
obliterated the line distinguishing;;
O
The mixture of white, negro, and Indian has brought
about a population ranging in hue from chocolate to
cream color. Now and then a pure white descendant
of the old aristocratic families may be seen; but such
instances are quite rare, as few families have escaped
the amalgamation.
A war of races is among the possibilities. In
former times some families were wont to enlist blacks
and Indians in the deadly feuds of the country now ;

they stand in dread of elements which will overshadow

or exterminate them, unless a timely influx of whites
from the United States and Europe shall counter-bal
ance the ever-increasing preponderence of the black
1
race. However, there are a number of respectable
negro families, some of whose members have occupied
high positions in the government.
1
A large number of the priests are blacks, and they regard with ill-con
cealed jealousy the advance of Americans in Cent. Am. Every measure of
the liberals to promote foreign immigration meets with opposition on the part
of the black priests.
(608
 WHITE, RED, AND BLACK. 609

The Indian or aboriginal element predominates

here as in all Central America. In some districts it
is difficult to
say whose habits of life prevail, the
white or the Indian. In the eastern portion of the
2
state, the population is almost entirely of Xicaques
and Payas, portions of which native tribes have
accepted the catholic religion and live at peace with
the white inhabitants; the rest, living among the
mountains, conform more to their original mode of
life, but maintain friendly relations with the white
race.
The
coast around Carataska Lagoon, and as far to
the westward as Brewer or Brus Lagoon, was at
one time occupied by zambos, or Mosquitos, but the
Caribs spreading rapidly eastward from Trujillo and
Black River have displaced them. The zambos have
of late years lost their former activity, and surrendered
to the besetting vice of drunkenness, which, together
with other causes, is hastening their extinction. Most
of them having been driven by the Caribs into territory
belonging to Nicaragua, the proportion of them still
remaining in Honduras must be small.
The Caribs are the descendants of the original
inhabitants of the leeward island of Saint Vincent. 3
The presence of negro blood among the Caribs is
explained by the foundering, when they were stil]
dwelling in Saint Vincent, of an African slave ship,
on one of the small islands of the vicinity. 4 The
Caribs, both the pure and the black, are active, in*
dustrious, and provident, and far more civilized than

Lying between the Rio Roman and Cape or Segovia River, an area of
2

some 15,000 square miles.

3
Their ancestors had favored the French in the squabbles with England,
and in 1796 were, by order of the British government, transported en masse,
to the number of about 5,000, and at heavy expense, to the then deserted
island of Roacan, in the bay of Honduras. They were subsequently invited
by the Spanish authorities to the mainland; and aided to found settlements
near the port of Trujillo. Since then they have rapidly increased, extending
themselves both to the eastward and westward of that port. Squiers Cent.
Am., 232.
The black Caribs are represented as tall and stout, and more mercurial
4

and vehement than the pure Caribs; the latter are shorter, but powertully
built.
HIST. CENT. AM., VOL. III. 39
610 HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA.

the zambos, living in well-constructed huts, which

are kept clean and comfortable. They still retain
their original language, though most of them can speak
Spanish and a little of English. While professing
to be catholics, they retain many of their old rites and
superstitions. Being a good, frugal, intelligent, and
useful laboring population, much aid may be expected
from them in the future development of the country.
In Comayagua and Chotuteca there are several
towns wholly occupied by Indians, who retain their
ancient language and many of their primitive customs.
They are industrious, provident, and peaceable; but
if left to their own unaided efforts, will never brinir
O
about the development of the country; but with the
introduction of an intelligent and enterprising people
their good qualities could be rendered useful.
Among the ladino class the men are all polite; the
educated are well-bred; and even in the lowest walks
of life courtly language and manners prevail. 5
The women of the higher class are rather tall, but
straight; their every movement
elegant and modest.
is
The brunettes with raven hair prevail as to numbers;
yet a fair complexion, with light hair, blue eyes, and
ruddy cheeks is found, particularly in the highlands.
Pretty hands and arms are common. The women of
the lower classes are generous and kind-hearted, hos
pitable, gentle, frank, and patient. Upon them falls
a large share of the work done. 6 This does not, of
course, apply to women of wealthy families, but the
fact stands that the women of the lower orders are
mere they appear cheerful and happy.
slaves, albeit
The practice of men and women
living together with
out being married prevails here, as elsewhere in Cen
7
tral America, chiefly among the lower order.
5
Leaving out the dignified and courteous members of the old and wealthy
families, the people show a strange mixture of politeness, simplicity, shrewd
ness, and effrontery, and above all, an indescribably passive indifference of
countenance. Wells Hand., 202-3.
6
It has been said of the Cent. Am. woman, she nursed, made tortillas,
and died. Id., 215.
7
The women of this class lead a degraded life. If the man has large
 DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. 61 L

Women of the higher class are taught but little be

yond reading, writing, and a few rules of arithmetic,
playing on the guitar or piano, dancing, and presenting
a good appearance in society. This done, they are
soon taken to the altar, and their matronly duties
begin. A
few young women, however, are sent to
8
the United States for an education.
Dwellings in Honduras are mostly of one story;
the Hondurenos, not having the excuse of earthquakes,
say that it was the mode established by their ancestors.
The sala, or parlor, is the room where the family pass
the greater part of the day, doing nothing in the fore
noon.
9
The construction of the house is very much
like that described for Nicaragua. The residences of
the wealthier classes are cleanly and cool, and have
neat gardens
5
in the rear, adorned with beautiful flowers
and birds in cages. There is no excess of furniture.
A bedstead, one or two chairs, and a clothes-press
form the ordinary furnishing of a bedroom. But in
the houses of the wealthier families, and where several
women reside, the rooms are more generously supplied.
Breakfast and dinner are substantial meals with the
10
wealthy. The manners observed at table are very
sedate, and always courteous. When wine or other
is drank, the health of the master and mis
beverage
tress of the house is pledged with the first glass. The
poor, especially in eastern Honduras, are badly fed,
and though generally fleshy and well formed, are not
means, his mistress has menials under her; if not, she is maid of all work.
Bates Cent. Am., 115.
Notwithstanding this lack of education, Cent. Am. women never fail to
8

interest the traveller by the peculiar gentleness and dignity of their de

meanor. Wells Hond., 227-8.
Sitting at the window in the afternoon and evening to recover from the
9

fatigue of it. Id., 195.

10
Breakfast bill of fare: boiled rice and beans, salads, bread, butter, cheese,
tortillas, coffee Dinner: soup, beef, salad, a variety of vege
and milk, fruit.
tables. There are other dishes, such as ollas fried with garlic, piccadillo of
half -cooked lights, oil, rice, and plantains, baked slices of liver, salchichas
or blood puddings with plenty of garlic, catamales filled with bits of fat meat
and cheese, boiled meat, broth, etc. ; the repast concludes with sweetmeats
and coffee. Wines and
liquors are generally of poor quality. The rum of
the country the most harmless.
is Cooking is generally done on an adobe
192-4.
fogon, or range, in a small building behind the dwelling-house. Id.,
612 HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA.

constitutionally strong. In the cattle districts of

Olancho they fare better, getting all the beef they
need. Yet even the former make patient and en
during soldiers, capable of travelling
11
twenty leagues
a day through the mountains.
The upper classes adopt American and European
fashions, and costly articles of wearing apparel are in
demand. Women, as a rule, wear white dresses the
year round, or those of a light pink or blue gauzy
stuff. At parties or balls the dress is usually white
and very light. Little jewelry is worn. In the street
a woman always wears a mantilla or a shawl covering
her head. The hair is oftener worn plaited, and put
up behind the head. Ringlets are seldom seen.
Women are rarely seen out except in the morning
and toward sunset.
Men of means travel on fast mules worth at least
$150 each; the trappings being silver mounted, and
some of the bridles and head-stalls adorned with plates
of virgin
O silver. The Hondurans are fine riders.
Many of the females are graceful and fearless horse
women. The habit of riding on the right side pre
vails. Sometimes the bottom of the rider s dress is
loaded with small silver coins fastened through holes
12
in the skirt.
All classes of the people, from the clergy down
or up indulge in bull and cock fights, horse-racing,
dancing, and the excitements of the monte-table, all
of which amusements generally follow the services of
the church on great civic or religious festivities. 13
Gambling is quite general, and thousands have been
ruined by this vice; however, there is less of it here
than in other parts of Central America. Begging is
11
The wearing leathern caites, travel that distance every day,
couriers,
at a gait fast walk and a run.
between a
12
Gloves fringed around the cuffs with silver, and a small riding- whip,
complete the attire. To ride and dance well are parts of the Central Ameri
can s education. Id., 201, 227.
13
Religious feasts are common, and the people seem to be close observants
of the ceremonies, and yet cannot be said to be as much priest-ridden as other
( entral Americans.
 CASTES AND CLASSES. G13

a prevalent practice throughout the country, and vari

ous devices are resorted to by the halt, maimed, blind,
and others to obtain alms. 14 Good domestic servants
are not easily procured in Honduras; they are gen
erally mulattoes of poor intelligence, and exceedingly
15
indolent.
The population of Guatemala is set down at about

750,000 Indians, 430,000 ladinos or mestizos, 10,000

persons white or nearly so, 8,000 negroes or colored,
and 2,000 foreigners. 16 The white men are mostly
owners of estates, and several of them belong to the
learned professions; others are engaged in trade, or
17
keep shops. The mestizos are mechanics, retail
shop-keepers, or servants. The Indians are the cul
tivators of the soil, and generally speaking, the agri
cultural laborers. Many mestizos, and not a few
pure Indians, however, belong to the learned profes
sions, and for that reason are counted among the
gentry, though not among the so-called nobles, sup
posed to be descendants of the Spaniards who in
colonial times held positions under the government, or
were connected with them.
Until the liberal regime became established in 1871,
a regime which did away with the privileges of class,
there were two castes in the country; namely, the
laboring and producing class, and the governing one
which was wholly made up of consumers. Between
the two classes custom and the rulers had built up a
Chinese wall, an almost impassable barrier. That
distinction has been rapidly disappearing under the
influence of liberal laws.
The Guatemalans of the educated class are noted
for their kindly disposition, simplicity of manners, and
14
Even manacled prisoners are permitted, under guard, to beg for money
to relieve their condition.
15
Good colored servants brought in from abroad soon fall into the indolent
habits of the blacks surrounding them. The stranger then finds that his
man Bob Long has become Don Roberto Longorio.
*

16
An official document sets the whole population on the 1st of Jan., 1886,
at 1,322,544 souls. Ouat., Mem. Sec. Fomento, 1886, annex no. J.
Among those traders are a number of European Spaniards, who are
17

every year joined by some of their relations from the old country.
614 HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA.

high sense of justice. Both sexes 18

are amiable, cour
teous, and attentive to strangers. Notwithstanding
their good intellectual powers, owing to the effects of
climate, habit, educational and religious training, bad
government, and perhaps the combination of those
causes, they have been inclined to indolence, and have
lacked in vigor of thought, energy, and enterprise;
punctuality could not be counted among their good
traits, but a most confirmed religious bigotry prevailed
for years among An enlightened public
all classes.
19

opinion, both in
government and religious matters,
has been, however, growing from the time that the
detestable old system was overthrown, it is hoped
forever.
The youthof Guatemala are made conversant with
the etiquette of society. The higher class are quiet,
reticent, grave, and seemingly impassible, but as a
rule make good husbands, fathers, and neighbors.
They are studiously polite and punctilious, expecting
a full return from others. The women are more free,
impressive, and impressible than the other sex, gracious
in speech, unaffected and winning They also rank
20
high for morality. Many of them are blondes ; many 21
have a white skin, with dark eyes and hair.
The who
are the issue of white fathers
mestizos,
and Indian mothers, and of the promiscuous inter
22
course, habitually seek the towns. They are, as a
18
Of mild disposition, good natural talents, aptitude for learning, and
lively imagination. Hospitality is one of their virtues. Montgomery s Narr.,
157-00.
19
who wrote before the upsetting of the old conservative regime,
Belly,
says: Un
population que son beau climat sollicite a 1 inertie, et qui sort a
peine de la plus abominable education religieitse et morale que jamais un.
peuple ait subie. A trav. VAmer. Cent., i. 153-4. Laferriere visited the
country some years later, and fully confirms the above. De Paris a Guatem.,
263.
20
Those of the better class will compare well with any people for good
morals, discreet conduct, and admirable behavior. Min. Hudson s Rept, in
(7. S. Gov. Doc., H. Ex. Doc., Cong. 43, Sess. 1, i. 446.
21
Most of the women smoke, the elder ones cigars, and the young ciga
rettes. They do it, however, in a pretty and ~, refined manner. Stephens
Trav. Cent. Am., i. 256.
22
A
natural roving appetite inclines them to favor and to freely indulge
such intercourse. Min. Hudson s Sept, in U. S. Gov. Doc., H. Ex. Doc.,
Cong. 43, Sess. 1, i. 445.
 PHYSIQUE AND DWELLINGS. 615

class, much the

superior intellectually of the pure
Indian, better educated, and less superstitious, as well
as less loyal to church and government, and too often
wicked, treacherous, and dissolute. When not injured
by early excesses the mestizos are finely built. The
younger and uncorrupted females are distinguished by
the voluptuous swell of their busts, fine lithe forms,
erect and graceful carriage. They walk with an
elastic footstepand inimitable grace and freedom.
The Indians mostly dwell by themselves in villages,
many on the estates of planters, and a few in the cities
and towns. 23 They are supposed to be intensely
catholic, but they mix in with their Christianity many
heathen rites; and being partially educated by the
clergy, nearly all understand and can speak the
Spanish language. When not corrupted by military
service the aboriginal is industrious, mild, and tem
perate. Those who dwell apart in their villages raise
most of the fruits and produce marketed, and make
most of the domestic articles sold in shops. Nearly
all,and particularly those of the departments of Los
Altos, have a fine physical development.
The race has been from the time of the conquest
oppressed and kept in a state of barbarous ignorance
arid superstition. The regime, established since 1871,
energetically enforced by the late President Barrios,24
has done much to brin"
O about a change
O for the better.
The Lacandones have been specially spoken of by
several authors who have written on Guatemala. The
Spaniards, after attempting in the latter end of the
seventeenth century to pacify the warlike Indian prov-
Every Ind. village has its own authorities, most of whom are chosen
23

from among the inhabitants.

24
The old system attempted to improve their condition by enacting laws
believed to be conducive to that end. Witness clauses of a decree of the con
stituent assembly of Nov. 8, 1851, giving force to certain laws of 1839, and
reviving others of the old Spanish Recop. de Iiidios, which were intended to
prevent the maltreatment of Indians. Gnat., Recop. Ley., i. 246, 512-15, 846-
53. On the 6th of Sept., 1879, a decree was passed, acknowledging the
|11_1-J- ( T 1 . , ,1
T T 1 1 11 1 1

id pr
,dy e
20, 1879.
616 HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA.

inces, including the Lacandon region, resolved upon

forcibly removing the Indian towns. The Indians of
the town of Dolores were generally quiet, but as an ex
pensive garrison would be required to make sure of
their continuing at peace, the inhabitants were removed
first to Aquespala, next for some unknown reason to
San Ramon, and finally to Santa Catarina de Retal-
25
huleu. These changes caused much suffering ; a large
number died, others became scattered, but most of
them returned to their native mountains. 26 The gov
ernment of Guatemala tried in 1831 and 1837 to bring
the Lacandones under its authority, but all its efforts
failed,and they have since retained their indepen
dence, though seemingly they have abandoned their
old predatory habits, contenting themselves with pre
27
O their isolation.
serving
The above remarks refer to the western Lacandones,
who on or near the Pasion River, and its tribu
live
taries. The eastern Lacandones are a harmless tribe
who hold no relations with and fear the others. 28
The dwellings of the citizens of Guatemala are gen
erally of only one story, but the capital and other
cities present fine houses of two stories; as a rule the
houses are commodious, and abundantly suppled with
water. Those of the wealthy are elegantly furnished,
and the rest tolerably well provided, the floors being
covered with mattings. The habitations of the poor
35
The German writers Scherzer and Von Tempski, and the American
Stephens, have occupied themselves with those people. According to them
the inhabitants live isolated, and render no service to Guat. They practise
a religion which is a mixture of catholic and heathen rites. The only ladinos
allowed to live with them are the priest and his attendants.
conquered by the Spaniards did not contain all the Lacan
26 The towns

dones. According to Pinelo, the Lacandones and Manches were computed, in

1637, at 100.000. This was subsequent to the invasion of their territory by
Quinones. Squier, Cent. Am., 568-72, gives much information on the subject.
27
Now ami then a few of them visit the Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco,
and Campeche to procure tobacco and other things, and suddenly disappear
by unknown paths, and never allow strangers to visit them.
28
The eastern Lacandones are tillers of the soil, hunters, and fishermen.
Though occasionally baptized by catholic missionaries, and fond of saying
prayers, they still adhere to their old heathen worship, and indulge in polyg
amy. They visit the whites and settled Indians to sell their produce. Ber~
emit s Explor. in Cent. Am., in Smithsonian fiept, 1867, 425.
 DRESS AND FOOD. 617

and Indians are mere thatched huts and altogether

comfortless.
The upper or educated class follow in their dress
the fashions of Europe and the United States. The
women, however, wear a mantilla or shawl and veil
when going to church, and appear without any cover
ing of the head when walking out or on a visit. They
29
like to adorn their hair with flowers. The men are
rather modest in their apparel, and only when equipped
for travelling do they exhibit some ostentation. At
such times, their weapons, the trappings of their horses
or mules, and other ornaments are expensive, provided
their means will allow the indulgence.
The following was the dress worn in the first quar
ter of the present century by the women of the lower
order, not included in the wealthy class. Short red
petticoats, with deep plain white flounces round the
bottom, gathered up in very thick plaits over their
hips with a white border thence upwards, they had
;

30
only a chemise to cover them. The hair in front
was in the madonna form, and the hinder part, being
of great length, was divided into tightly plaited cords,
which were twisted round the head in various devices.
A pink satin shoe, without stockings, completed the
costume. Most of the Guatemala damsels of the lower
classes dressed in that style, excepting that more fre
quently they went without shoes, this being specially
noted in the servant class. 31 Some changes have oc
curred since then, and a considerable number of the
lower order have adopted the custom of dressing like
the wealthy, but as a rule a marked difference exists
between the two classes.
Men of the mechanic class generally dress like the
29
Fine and costly tortoise-shell combs were at one time much used.
Women wear hats only when riding on horseback. The Guat. female is fond
of embroidered articles, costly fans, rich jewelry, and every other finery.
There are other women in the world like them.
30
It being starched into stiff folds, it supplied in some measure the place
of a jacket.
Wealthy women objected to their female servants wearing other than
31

naguas, and would have none that wore shoes.

618 HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA.

upper class the laborers rarely have more than a shirt

;

and trousers; and occasionally a round jacket. Many

go barefooted or wear the caite. common palm or A
straw hat covers the head. The village or agricul
tural Indians go scantily clad. The best wear of a
male consists of a straw hat, a short-sleeved shirt, short
breeches, and caites. The females rarely sport more
than a loose waistcoat, and a short petticoat, or a
cloth wrapped round the waist, reaching a little below
the knees. Children of both sexes run nude.
The food of the Guatemalans is about the same as
that of other Central Americans of their respective
classes. Travellers will find mesones to provide shel
ter and refreshments for man and beast at certain
distances on their journey.
32
At places where no inns
exist, the traveller will be accommodated by the
priest, or by the alcalde in the town hall.
The Guatemalans, like all Central Americans, are
33
fond of bull and cock fighting, as well as of games of
34
chance, which are indulged in with great frequency.
The government endeavors to provide amusements of
a more intellectual and refined character. It built a
fine theatre in the capital, and from time to time sub
35
sidizes musical and dramatic troupes.

Begging is common. The sight of a crowd of beg

gars in rags, many of them exhibiting their sores, is
very repulsive. Those beggars are supported by pub 36
lic charity and are rarelv sent away without relief.

32
Such places are convenient, though not agreeable, owing to the variety
and abundance of fleas, jiggers, etc. Laferriere, De Paris a Guatem., 267;
Stephen* Trav. Cent. Am., i. 163-81.
33
In bull-tights they merely worry and torture the animal, but never kill
it in presence of the public.
34
The vice is not prevalent among the Indians who live apart in their vil
lages. During the bathing season in Amatitlan, for instance, the time is
spent in gambling, and intrigues between the sexes, and among the visitors
are always a number of veritable sharpers. The native generally bears his
losses with hardly a sign of impatience. Dunlops Cent. Am., 152-3; Stephens
Trav. Cent. Am., i. 261, 298-301; Boddarn, W., Across Cent. Am., 136-8.
36
Barrios, Mensaje, 1876, 55-6; Guat., Mem. Sec. Fomento, 1880, 35-6; 1883,
59-60; 1884, 40-1; 1885, 44-6.
26
Bates" Cent. Am., etc., 110
 DISEASES AND HOSPITALS. 619

The several states of Central America have often

been visited with calamities in the form of storms and
hurricanes, freshets, and fires, causing heavy losses of
property, and at times of life also. Disease causes its
destruction as elsewhere, and often maladies in an epi
demic form have decimated the population. Fevers
are rare, except on the coasts, where they prevail dur
37
ing the hottest months. The small-pox has on sev
eral occasions done havoc among the population. The
invasions of the malady in 1851 in Costa Rica, 1862
38
in Guatemala and Honduras, and in 1883 in Costa
39
Rica, have been specially recorded in those countries.

Leprosy prevailing in several parts of Central

America, special hospitals have been established in
some of the republics for the reception and care of
40
persons thus afflicted. Syphilis exists in Central
America, but is not so prevalent as in Mexico. In
some parts laws have been enacted to regulate the
41
social evil.
That great scourge of the present century in Europe
and America, Asiatic cholera, has repeatedly invaded
the Central American states, carrying vast numbers
to destruction. In 1836 it desolated the largest cities,
37
The fevers of the country are the intermittent, resembling the worst
form of fever and ague in the the caleiitura, which is a type
western U. S. ;

of the same. It is not common and yields usually to strong

in the interior,
cathartics, followed by quinine, which physicians are wont to administer in
heavy doses. Wells Hond., 547-8. Yellow fever breaks out with more or
l^ss virulence some years at the ports, particularly on the Atlantic side; it
has occasionally spread to the interior. Diariode Mex., 539 40, 509-71; Amer.
Cent. Cie Beije, ii. 48-52; DisturnelCs Injl. of dim., 252; Costa R., Informs
Sec. Gobern., 1869, 15; Nic., Gaceta, May 9 to Aug. 8, 1SG8; Laferri&re, DC
Paris a Guatem., 47-8, and table 444 B. Measles and scarlet fever have also
made their appearance epidemically, destroying many lives. Salv., El Stylo,
May 28 to Aug. 14, 1851; Id.. Diario Ofic., July 31, 1875; Costa R., Mem.
Sec. Guerra, etc., 1867, doc. D, 31.
38
Nic. adopted timely precautions to escape it, by having the people vac
cinated. Nic., Boletin Ofic., Aug. 2, 1862.
39
Rocha, C6d. Nic., ii. 165; Costa /?., Mem. Min. Gobern., 1852-3; /</.,

1884, annex A.
4J
Elephantiasis not common, but occasionally found in the upland re
is -

Only one leg is stricken; the swelling often reaches above the knee.
t is considered incurable and fatal. Costa R., I11forme Sec. Interim*, 1864, 9-
fions.
10; Nic., Informe Mm. Gobern., 1871, 7; Guat., Recop. Ley., Gob. Democ., ii.
21; Walls Hond., 548.
4l
Journ. of a Voy., in Am. Register, iii. 147; Soc. Mex. Geoa., Bol, viii,
507; Costa R., Col. Ley., xxiii. 259-63; Id., Mem. Sec. Gobern., 1884, 99-100.
620 HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA.

and everywhere created the utmost consternation. 42

It again made its appearance in the early part of July
1855. A
soldier died in Fort San Juan. few days A
later a boat-load of cholera patients came to Granada,
and forthwith the malady spread throughout Nicara
gua and the rest of Central America, its heart-rending
effects not ceasing in Salvador and Guatemala till
43
toward the latter part of 1857. The disease broke
out again epidemically in Nicaragua toward the end
of 1866, and continued its ravages there and in Hon
duras in 1867 and 1868, and it appears that some
44
cases occurred in Honduras even as late as 187 1.
The several republics have provided hospitals for
the care of the indigent poor, as well as other benevo
lent establishments for the comfort of orphans and
others needing public support. There are also chari
table societies affording great relief to the sick and
destitute.
42
But few cases appeared in Hond. down to 1856. Wells Hond., 549. A
malady presenting some of the symptoms of cholera did considerable havoc in
Costa R. in 1845, and it was apprehended that it might degenerate into the
Asiatic type, but it fortunately did not. In the same state the government,
toward off an expected invasion of the disease on the 9th of Feb., 1849, estab
lished a strict quarantine, which was raised on the 9th of April. Nic., Reyia-
tro Ofic., 107; Costa /?., Col. Ley., xi. 14-15, 20.
4a
We
have seen how previous to and during the Walker war cholera de
stroyed a conservative army in Managua, and later one from Costa Rica, and
how for a long time it hindered military operations. Perez, Mem. Hi*t. Rev.
Nic., 140; Costa R., Mem, Min. Rel., 1850, 9-11; 8. F. Herald, Sept. 5, 1855;
Id., Bulletin, June 6, 1856; Id., Alfa, Oct. 2, 1857; El Tiempo, Aug. 14, Sept.
15, 1857; El Estandarte Nac., Sept. 15, 1857; El Eco Nac. , Oct. 1, 1857.
44
Costa R. by timely precautions escaped the infliction. NIC., Gac., Dec.
22, 1866; March 9 to Nov. 9, 1867, passim; Jan. 25, 1868; Id., Decretos, 1867,
50; Id., Mem. Min. Fomento, 1869, 7; Costa R., Mem. Sec. Ouerra, etc., 1867,
8, doc. A, 23, D, 31; El Porvenir de Nic., Feb 18, 1872.