Note XXVII-35 — Chapter XXVII · CENTRAL AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS. 1886.

Omoa is situated about a quarter of a mile from the beach on level ground, but the back country rises rapidly into a chain of high mountains, beginning abruptly at Puerto Caballos, now called Puerto Cortés. Owing to its position, Omoa is generally cool and healthy, has seldom been visited by epidemics. The place is defended by the San Fernando castle. Trujillo lies close by the sea at the foot of a lofty mountain covered with vegetation, and reaching to the very edge of the water. The town was at one time of considerable importance, both in a commercial and military point of view; but now it has an antique, dilapidated, and abandoned appearance. Amapala, on the island of Tigre, was in old times a favorite resort of pirates; it was here that Drake had his depot during his operations in the Pacific. Owing to the visits of those marauders, the Indian population of Tigre and Zacate Grande retired to the mainland, and the islands remained almost entirely deserted till 1838, when Amapala was made a free port, since which time it has become a very important place. It has a salubrious climate. Further details on the towns of Honduras may be found in Montgomery's Narr. of a Journey to Guat., etc., in 1838, 31; Squier's Cent. Am., 98-129, 142-161; Squier's Hond. R. R., 74-84, 99-102; Squier's Trav., ii. 164-8; Young's Resid. Mosq. Shore, 138-40; Wells' Hond., 324-5, 574-9; Reichardt, Cent. Am., 89-90, 93-5; Wappäus, Mex. und Cent. Am., 311-19; Froebel's Cent. Am., 177-83; Pim's Gate of the Pac., 28-9.