Show HONDURAS LAND OF RIVERS AND BIG DEBT honduras non duras least developed ot of the five latin american countries which are now considering the formation ofa 0 a united states of central america is a country of hills and valleys of rain and sunshine of large and small rivers A half dozen rivers may be crossed in one day and Noi while lille they are usually narrow and shallow a few hours rain will turn them into roaring torrents absolutely impassable A traveler may be held up for many days by a stream that when he first crossed it was less than three feet in depth Ilon honduras durus i li bald to be the most backward of all the central american republics and she will remain so until railroads cross the country and the government becomes stable then there will be great there for many and americans and american capital will always be welcome the country Is just a little larger than the state of pennsylvania yet it ling has a population of only a little more than half a million it has the largest per capita debt of any country on the face of the globe except new zealand at least it had before the present european war upset all statistical conditions di dit ions tiong it owes per capita most of this debt was created by loan shark methods however for honduras would agree to pay 10 to get one or some such ridiculous proportion the name of the country Is said to be derived from a spanish term meaning depth the early explorers arv having found difficulty in striking water shallow enough for anchorage they were so delighted when they reached the nicaraguan shore nearby that they called the headland cape gracyas a dlos dlo cape thanks to god a name it still holds As a rule the night will be spent in a native house sometimes little more than a hut built of mud that chedor roo fod fed with tiles one Is apparently always welcome to the best the house affords alt but a hammock as part of the travelers outfit Is a necessity for the beds of stretched bull hide or canvas are usually fully occupied if not by thoe at whose hose A homes you are a guest then by other residents greatly to be ba feared everybody sleeps in one room men aomen ornen and children together your hosts are curious s but politely so watching you undress and get into your hammock with a crile stare that must not be considered dayl for a white than man is not an all everyday every day visitor one learns seldom to undress completely I 1 |