Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/805

 HONDURAS rest of Syria restored to Turkey by the inter- vention of the European powers. HONDURAS, a republic of Central America lying between lat. 13 10' and 16 5' N and Ion. 83 12' and 89 47' W., and bounded N. and E. by the Caribbean sea, S. by Nicaragua (from which it is separated for about half its length by the river Segovia), the Pacific, and San Salvador, and W. and N. W. by Guatemala ; length from E. to W., 440 m. ; greatest breadth N. to S., 200 m. ; area, about 50,000 sq. m. The coast line on the Atlantic is much more ex- tensive than that on the Pacific, its length be- ing about 400 m. ; it is comparatively even, low and marshy E. of Ion. 85, and often high and rocky W. of that point. The Pacific coast line is but 60 m. in length, very irregular and 787 low, and subject to inundation by spring tides Both coasts are unhealthy, but the miasmatic influence does not extend far inland. Off the Atlantic coast are Ruatan, Guanaja or Bonaca Utila Helena, Barbaretta, Morat, and other smaller islands dependent upon the first the whole group being known as the Bay islands and under the jurisdiction of Jamaica They are chiefly inhabited by British subjects, an occupation in violation of the express terms of a treaty made with the United States in 1850. Guanaja is celebrated as having been the point from which Columbus in 1502 descried for the first time the Central American mainland. The principal ports of Honduras, which are among the most commodious in Central America, are Omoa, Trujillo, Puerto CortSs (formerly called Puerto Caballos), and Amapala ; the first three are on the Caribbean sea, and the last on Fon- seca bay in the Pacific. That of Omoa, form- ed by a small bay opening to the N. W., and offering safe anchorage to vessels of the deep- est draft, is the exporting and importing cen- tre for the departments of Yoro, Olancho, and part of Tegucigalpa; the town, situated m. from the harbor in a marshy region, is very unhealthy. Trujillo, on a delightful bay of the same name, was an important shipping town in colonial times ; but being situated so far from the populous parts of the country and the more frequented paths (there being no roads), it has gradually lost its prestige. Puer- to Cortds was for more than two centuries the principal entrepot on the coast; it stands on a bay 9 m. in circumference, at a short dis- tance from Omoa, and may be entered by the largest ocean steamers, which there find secure mooring ground and convenient docks. Amapala, on the N. E. shore of the island of Tigre, facing the island of Sacate Grande, the only port of Honduras on the Pacific, has ex- cellent anchorage, thorough shelter, and good facilities for repairing ships. All the ports in the republic are now free; that of Amapala was declared so in 1857, the inhabitants being exempt from military service and all imposts, save in time of war, and from tithes and excise. The bay of Fonseca, washing the shores of San Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, is about 35 m. long and 45 m. wide, and contains the finest " constellation of ports " on the W. coast of America. Among its numerous islands are Sacate, the largest, and Tigre, rising like a