_Corruptions recognised as acknowledged Words_ (Vol. iv., p. 313.).--The
first person who settled in Honduras was the celebrated buccaneer
Wallis, in 1638, from whom the principal town and river were named. The
Spaniards called it _Valis_; and _v_ and _b_ having the same
pronunciation in Spanish, it became _Balis_, then _Balize_, _Belize_,
the actual name.