CHAPTER XI

.—Antiquities—Ancient Statue in the Grand Plaza—Monuments

on the Island of Momotombita in Lake Managua—Determine to visit them—The Padre Paul—Pueblo Nuevo and our Old Hostess—A Night Ride—“Hacienda de las Vacas”—A Night amongst the “Vaqueros”—The Lake—Our Bongo—Visit the Hot Springs of Momotombo—Attempt to reach one of the “Infernales” of the Volcano—Terrible Heat—Give up the Attempt—Oviedo’s Account of the Volcano—“Punta de los Pajaros”—Momotombita—Dread of Rattlesnakes—The Monuments—Resolve to remove the largest—A Nest of Scorpions—Tribulation of our Crew—Hard Work—How to ship an Idol—Virtues of Aguardiente—“Purchasing an Elephant”—More “Piedras Antiguas”—The Island once Inhabited—Supposed Causeway to the Main-land—A Perilous Night Voyage—Difficult Landing—Alacran, or Scorpion Dance—A Foot-march in the Forest—The “Hacienda de los Vacas” again—Scant Supper—Return to Leon—The Idol sent, via Cape Horn, to Washington—A Satisfied Padre—Idols from Subtiaba—Monstrous Heads—Visit to an Ancient Temple—Fragments—More Idols—Indian Superstitions—“El Toro”—Lightning on Two Legs—A Chase after Horses—Sweet Revenge—“Capilla de la Piedra”—Place of the Idol—The Fray Francisco de Bobadilla—How he Converted the Indians—Probable History of my Idols—The Ancient Church “La Mercedes de Subtiaba”—Its Ruins—“Agarrapatas”—Tropical Insects—Snakes and Scorpions _versus_ Fleas and Wood-ticks—A Choice of Evils, 285

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