CHAPTER III
.—Outline of Negotiations in respect to the Proposed
Canal, etc., etc. 672
ILLUSTRATIONS.
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MAP.
GENERAL MAP OF NICARAGUA.
LITHOGRAPHS.
PAGE
1—IDOLS AT ZAPATERO, Nos. 2 and 3, _Facing_ 474
2—IDOLS AT ZAPATERO, Nos. 4 and 5, ” 478
3—IDOLS AT ZAPATERO, Nos. 6 and 7, ” 479
4—IDOLS AT ZAPATERO, Nos. 15 and 16, ” 486
WOOD ENGRAVINGS.
1—ARMS OF NICARAGUA, _Title_.
2—VIEW OF LAKE NICARAGUA, FROM THE SANDOVAL HACIENDA, NEAR _Frontispiece_. GRANADA,
3—SAN JUAN DE NICARAGUA, 1849, 25
4—“OUR HOUSE,” SAN JUAN, 35
5—HUT OF MOSQUITO INDIANS, 39
6—SAN JUAN DE NICARAGUA, 1853, 54
7—THE BONGO “LA GRANADINA,” 60
8—VIEW ON SAN JUAN RIVER, 73
9—EL CASTILLO VIEJO, OR OLD FORT, 77
10—SENTINEL’S BOX AT EL CASTILLO, 82
11—THE IGUANA, 90
12—FORT OF SAN CARLOS, 95
13—STORM ON LAKE NICARAGUA, 99
14—PUEBLO OF SAN MIGUELITO, 99
15—THE PLANTAIN TREE, 119
16—ANCIENT VASE, 120
17—NICARAGUAN MEAT MARKET, 120
18—VIEWS ON ROAD TO THE MALACCAS, 156
19—PIEDRA DE LA BOCA, 179
20—NICARAGUAN CART, 182
21—AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, 200
22—VIEW OF LAKE MANAGUA, 209
23—VIEW NEAR NAGAROTE, 209
24—HOUSE IN PUEBLO NUEVO, 221
25—PLAN OF HOUSE IN LEON, 241
26—GREAT CATHEDRAL OF LEON, 244
27—CHURCH OF MERCED AND VOLCANO OF EL VIEJO, 247
28—VOLCANOES OF AXUSCO AND MOMOTOMBO, 247
29—ANCIENT METLAL OR GRINDING STONE, 256
30—ORNAMENTS ON SAME, 257
31—MACHETE AND TOLEDO, 260
32—PAROCHIAL CHURCH OF SUBTIABA, 266
33—PRIMITIVE SPINNING APPARATUS, 269
34—SPINNING, FROM A MEXICAN MS., 270
35—PRIMITIVE WEAVING, 271
36—MODERN POTTERY AND CARVING, 273
37—INDIAN GIRL, IN FULL COSTUME, 274
38—COURTYARD OF HOUSE IN LEON, 284
39—IDOL FROM MOMOTOMBITA, No. 1, 286
40—IDOL FROM MOMOTOMBITA, No. 2, 296
41—FRONT VIEW OF SAME, 297
42—COLOSSAL HEAD FROM MOMOTOMBITA, 298
43—IDOL FROM SUBTIABA, No. 1, 302
44—IDOL FROM SUBTIABA, No. 2, 303
45—IDOL FROM SUBTIABA, No. 3, 304
46—SIDE VIEW OF IDOL, No. 1, 311
47—IDOL FROM SUBTIABA, No. 4, 312
48—RUINS OF ANCIENT CHURCH, 312
49—STREET VIEW IN LEON, 323
50—NICARAGUAN PLOUGH, 327
51—PROCESSION OF HOLY WEEK, 328
52—GENERAL VIEW OF CHINENDAGA, 349
53—CHURCH AND PLAZA OF CHINENDAGA, 351
54—PORT OF REALEJO, 351
55—LAKE NIHAPA, AN EXTINCT CRATER, 392
56—PAINTED ROCKS OF MANAGUA, 393
57—SANTIAGO, AN ANCIENT CARVING, 401
58—IDOL AT MANAGUA, 402
59—LAKE AND VOLCANO OF MASAYA, 425
60—RUINED GATEWAY, MASAYA, 425
61—SCULPTURED ROCKS OF MASAYA, 437
62—VIEW IN THE “QUEBRADA DE LAS INSCRIPCIONES,” 439
63—CHURCH OF SAN FRANCISCO, GRANADA, 443
64—IDOL AT PENSACOLA, No. 1, 451
65—IDOL AT PENSACOLA, No. 2, 455
66—IDOL AT PENSACOLA, No. 3, 455
67—THE BONGO “LA CARLOTA,” 459
68—IDOL AT ZAPATERO, No. 1, 471
69—STONE OF SACRIFICE, 476
70—PLAN OF MONUMENTS, 477
71—IDOL AT ZAPATERO, No. 9, 481
72—IDOL AT ZAPATERO, No. 10, 483
73—IDOLS AT ZAPATERO, Nos. 11 and 12, 485
74—IDOL AT ZAPATERO, No. 13, 486
75—SCULPTURED ROCK, 488
76—BURIAL VASES FROM OMOTEPEC, 509
77—VASES FROM OMOTEPEC, 510
78—COPPER MASK, 511
79—FROG IN GREEN STONE, 511
80—GROUP OF ABORIGINAL RELICS, 515
81—NEW VOLCANO ON PLAIN OF LEON, 515
82—THE PAROQUET, 550
83—VIEW ON LAKE MANAGUA, 560
84—THE TOUCAN, 574
85—THE CRIMSON CRANE, 582
86—VIEW ON THE ESTERO REAL, 587
87—VOLCANO OF COSEGUINA FROM THE SEA, 587
88—VOLCANO OF COSEGUINA, 589
89—MOUNTAIN SCENERY IN HONDURAS, 601
90—LA UNION AND VOLCANO OF CONCHAGUA, 612
91—CHURCH OF LA UNION, 612
92—LAS TORTILLERAS, 621
93—VOLCANO OF OMOTEPEC FROM VIRGIN BAY, 643
94—PORT OF SAN JUAN DEL SUR, 646
95—MOUTH OF RIO LAJAS, 660
PREFACE
TO REVISED EDITION.
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Since the publication of the original edition of this work, in 1852, the beautiful but hapless Republic of Nicaragua has been the theatre of a series of startling events which have concentrated upon it not only the attention of the American public, but of all civilized nations. It has been made the arena of aimless, and not always reputable diplomatic contests, and of an obstinate and bloody struggle between a handful of Northern adventurers and an effete and decadent race. And unless the future shall strangely betray the indications of the present, it is destined to pass through a succession of still severer throes, in its advance to that political status and commercial importance inseparable from its geographical position and natural resources. For, in Nicaragua, and there alone, has Nature combined those requisites for a water communication between the seas, which has so long been the dream of enthusiasts, and which is a desideratum of this age, as it will be a necessity of the next. There too has she lavished, with a bountiful hand, her richest tropical treasures; and the genial earth waits only for the touch of industry to reward the husbandman a hundredfold with those products, which, while they contribute to his wealth, add to the comfort and give employment to the laborer of distant and less favored lands.
Public interest, and especially American interest in Nicaragua must therefore constantly increase; and the desire to know the characteristics of the country, its scenery and products, and the habits and customs of its people, can never diminish. In the Narrative which follows, these are faithfully presented; and though, in some cases, there may be a needless amplitude of incidents, yet even this is probably not without its use in relieving descriptions and details which might otherwise prove dry and repulsive in form. In all essential respects, Nicaragua is little changed since 1850, and since a later visit of the author in 1854. It is true, Granada has been added to its list of ruined cities, and Rivas and Masaya bear the scars of battles on their walls. The people have perhaps a more thoughtful look, as becomes men realizing that the fulness of time has finally brought them within the circle of the world’s movement, and that they must assume and discharge the responsibilities of their new position, or give place to those who are equal to the requirements of this age and prompt to recognize their duties to their fellow men.
But in all other respects, as I have said, the country is unchanged. Its high and regular volcanic cones, its wooded plains, broad lakes, bright rivers, and emerald verdure are still the same. The _aguadora_ still steps along firmly under her heavy water jar, or climbs, panting, up the cliffs that surround the Lake of Masaya. The naked children, in average color possibly a shade lighter than before, still bestride the hips of nurse or mother. Small and pensive mules still trudge to market, ears and feet alone visible beneath their green loads of _sacate_. The _mozo_ and his _machete_, the red-belted cavalier, on scarlet _pillion_, pricking his champing horse through the streets, the languid Señora puffing the smoke of her cigaretta in lazy jets through her nostrils—the sable priest, with _gallo_ under his arm, hurrying to the nearest cock pit—the shrill _quien vive_ of the bare-footed sentinel—the rat-tat-too of the afternoon drum—the eternal Saints’ days, and banging _bombas_—all, all are the same!
NEW YORK, September, 1859
[Illustration:
MAP OF NICARAGUA Showing its DEPARTMENTAL DIVISIONS and proposed Routes of INTEROCEANIC COMMUNICATION By E. G. Squier. 1860 ]
NARRATIVE.
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