A bank along the Belize River in Cayo, 1920's
The Belize Old River
by Hector Silva
In the 1580’s the Belize River was referred by the Maya civilization as the ”RIVER TIPU,“ perhaps because it led to the TIPU CITY.
Later on the Baymen Settlers, who began moving further to the interior, referred to this river as the ” RIVER OF THE BULLY’s “.
Some people believe that one of the reasons for the name BULLY, was, because of the abundance of the tree called “BULLET TREE”, along this river.
The Belize River has two main branches which are the MOPAN and the MACAL Rivers which meet at Branch mouth near San Ignacio & Santa Elena to form the BELIZE OLD RIVER.
THIS RIVER HAS MANY SIGNIFICANCIES in the BELIZE STORY or Story of the nation of Belize. – ( more is in my book with this cover ) May I just mention, the FOUR CIVILIZATIONS, served by this River.
1. – THE MAYA CIVILIZATION for thousands of years.
2, – SPANISH INVADERS for a short period, until they were driven away by the MAYAS in 1642 and the Baymen Settlers in 1798.
3. – THE BRITISH COLONIZERS from 1638.to 1981. – and now
4. – THE BELIZEANS as Farmers,Traders, & now THE RUTA MAYA.
FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF BELIZE,
Let it be known, that the Belize Old River settled ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE ANGLO- GUATEMALA TREATY, which reads as follows:
ARTICLE 7 – states
” For the good relations which existed between Her Britanic Majesty;’s Government and the Government of the Republic of Guatemala it was AGREED, that for the improvement in the communications between the two CONTRACTING PARTNERS, they CONJOINTLY ( between the two ) AGREED to build a CART ROAD ( say mule & cart road ) from the sea near Belize to Guatemala, OR ” USE THE EXISTING RIVERS “. ( for their development )
WELL I could tell you, that the Department of El Peten, Guatemala was developed by the USE OF THE BELIZE OLD RIVER.- ( millions of Mahogany logs from Peten were floated down this River,- millions of pounds of Chicle from Peten were transported down this river in 26 River Boats.
Most of El Peten supply of goods of all kinds food and building materials were transported to San Ignacio and then transported by Packs of Mules. – – – – ( My Maternal Grandfather Farrias had many of these mules that traded with El Peten.
This was a time of the year around December when Boat Traffic on the Belize Old River was heavy. - Sometimes up to six boats with barges well loaded, docked at the El Cayo Landing with goods for CAYO and PETEN.
On their way back, they carried thousands of Chicle Blocks, Pigs, Fouls and Turkeys and eggs. Then in the barges, cattle for the Belize market. Nearer to the ending of December, our TOP RACE HORSE were taken down for the BIG HORSE RACES at the Barracks, in Belize City, on New Years Day. ( WHAT GLORIOUS DAYS IN THE WEST. )
Names of Old Settlements along the Belize River
by Hector Silva
Here are the names of OLD settlements along the Belize Old River, from its two main branches, the MOPAN river and the MACAL river up to Branch mouth and down the River.
On the Mopan- Arenal, Benque Viejo del Carmen, San Jose Succotz, Clarissa, Buena Vista, San Francisco, Calla Creek, Paslow Falls, Bullet Tree Falls Village, Branch Mouth.
On the MACAL RIVER- Macaw Bank, Broke Mouth, Argentina, Negro Man & Chial, ( Fowl Cock, NOW Cristo Rey, ) San Felipe, Duffy Bank, San Ignacio, Branch Mouth.
From Branch Mouth- San Jose, ( Bright Lookout, Johnny Sam, Carmelita, NOW SANTA FAMILIA. ) Bradley's Bank, Caretella Bank, ( Santa Rosa, Saw Mill, Middle Bank, NOW Esperanza,) Duck Run, Benque Ceiba, Tiger Bank, Baking Pot, Garbutt Creek, Spanish Lookout, Morning Glory, Platon, Gentle Bank, ( Wacamayo Pass Mouth NOW George Ville, ) Dickie Smith, Floral Park, Barton Creek, Little Barton Creek (NOW United Ville), Iguana Creek, Mount Hope, Bucut Palace, Black Man Eddy, Warrie Head (Now Ontario) Teakettle.
From Teakettle to Big Falls-
Young Gial, Happy Home, ( Now Camalote,) New Home, Banner Bank, Roaring Creek, Banana Bank, Little Orange Walk ( Melhado Farm ), Never Delay, ( Ben Stuart Farm ), Mount Pleasant, Kitty Bank, Cocos, Saturday Creek, Bull Run, Salomon's Place, Cotton Tree Bank, Rock Donda, Meditation, More Tomorrow, Dancing School Eddie, Joe White Bank, Picarry Guts, Panama, Gale Creek, Beaver Dam, Castille, Cocrico Run, Baboon Eddie, Laboring Creek, Married Woman Point.
These are Villages, settlements, Farms, Banks where boats docked, Mahogany Works, along the Belize Old River up to the border between the Cayo District and the Belize District, near today's AMIGOS cool spot.
Here's the list down the river up to Belize City:
From Big Falls- Cock Laugh ( or cock loft - Foul Coupe), Society Hall, Johnny Young's Bank, Sutherland's Bank, Double Head Cabbage, Isabela Bank, Rancho Dolores, Lemonal, Jim Coto, Bermudan Landing, Hunt's Point, Scotland and Half Moon, Flowers' Bank, Bamboo Patch, Lime Walk, Burns Pen, May Pen, Black Creek, Grace Bank, Jones Bank, Mexico Creek, Bakers Ranch, Double Run, Tenesee Ranch, Burrel Boom.
FROM BURREL BOOM to Belize City-
Mitchell Pen, Wiltshire Place, Trinidad Farm, Van Tuy's Bank, Evans's Bank, Gabourel Bank, Hofius Mango Walk, Noguera Pine Ridge, Haul Over Ferry (Jewish Cemetery) then enter into the Haulover Creek, and a few small settlements like Chicago Slim Place.
Arenal. - Let us begin by describing where Arenal is located. - That area around the Mopan River is an area barren of SAND, ( ARENA, ) If you notice the Mopan River, you hardly see a Sandy Beach or a large deposit - BUT according to old residents of that area , like Don Quintin Zelaya Sr, it is claimed that sand was found there when concrete works were carried in Benque Viejo in old times. ( I invite my colleague Professor David Ruiz to throw some light on this. ).
ON the name GARBUTT Creek and GARBUTT Falls, there is a reference that he was a Mahogany Sub Contractor who worked in this area, in the early 1900s. John Garbutt, Esq. appears in a 1790s Spanish report as the 'Commissary' appointed by Supt. Marcus E. Despard to accompany the Spanish commissary Rafael Llobet in the inspection of the Settlement. There were 5 'white' Garbutts with 16 enslaved persons at that time. He claimed on lands along the Belize River.
Let me squeeze in MACAW BANK. My uncle Candelario de La Fuente, one of the original farmers of that area, once told me, that when he first visited the area, it was a large nesting place of the Macaw Parrot. and he told me that there are many indents ( small holes on the River Banks, where the nesting took place during their season.
Photograph courtesy Belize Abroad
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