Pital

When we arrived at Rio Chiquito, we were pointed in the direction of an old and faded wooden sign that said "El Pital --" and after failing to wake the young girl at the little shop, we opted to head up the mountain with granola bars, water, a camera, and some hope of success.

Archive 2008-08-01 Belizean' A New Trail 2008

When we arrived at Rio Chiquito, we were pointed in the direction of an old and faded wooden sign that said "El Pital --" and after failing to wake the young girl at the little shop, we opted to head up the mountain with granola bars, water, a camera, and some hope of success.

La Palma to The Top of The World Belizean' A New Trail 2008

Most of the latter are cut up to form a fence round the clearing, this at Pital and Esquipula being made very close and high to keep out deer.

The Naturalist in Nicaragua Thomas Belt 1855

To show how prolific the locality was in insect life, I need only state that about two hundred and ninety of the species were taken within a radius of four miles, having on one side the savannahs near Pital, on the other the ranges around Santo

The Naturalist in Nicaragua Thomas Belt 1855

The roads through the forest were excessively muddy, and it took us four hours to get over the seven miles to Pital; the poor mules struggling all the way through mud nearly three feet deep.

The Naturalist in Nicaragua Thomas Belt 1855

Much of the land between Pital and the lake is well fitted for the cultivation of maize, sugar, and plantains, and near the river at Acoyapo the soil is very fertile.

The Naturalist in Nicaragua Thomas Belt 1855

There are a few small sugar plantations near Pital.

The Naturalist in Nicaragua Thomas Belt 1855

July, and, as usual, made very slow progress through the forest as far as Pital, in consequence of the badness of the road, which was now worse than when I had passed over it a month before.

The Naturalist in Nicaragua Thomas Belt 1855

After reaching Pital I rode rapidly over the savannahs, where the swallows were skimming over the top of the long grass to frighten up the insects which rested there.

The Naturalist in Nicaragua Thomas Belt 1855

We started from Esquipula early next morning, and crossed low thinly-timbered hills and savannahs to Pital, a scattered settlement of many small thatched houses, close to the borders of the great forest; on the edge of which were clearings, made for growing maize, which is cultivated entirely on burnt forest land.

The Naturalist in Nicaragua Thomas Belt 1855