CHAPTER IV

.—San Carlos—Dinner at the Commandante’s—Introduction to

“Tortillas y Frijoles”—A Siesta—News of the attempted Revolution—Anticipating Events, and what happened to the Commandante after we left—Departure under a Military Salvo—View of San Carlos from the Lake—Lake Navigation—Card Playing—Gorgeous Sunset—A Midnight Storm—San Migueleto, and the “Bath of the Naides”—Primitive Simplicity—A Day on the Lake—“El Pedernal”—A Bath with Alligators—An “Empacho”—A Trial at Medicine, and great Success—Second Night on the Lake—The Volcanoes of Momobacho, Ometepec, and Madeira—Volcanic Scenery—The Coast of Chontales—The Crew on Politics—“Timbucos” and “Calandracas,” or a Glance at Party Divisions—Arrival at “Los Corals”—Some Account of them—Alarming News—A Council of War—Faith in the United States Flag—The Island of Cuba—More News, and a Return of the “Empacho”—Distant View of Granada—Making a Toilet—Bees—Arrival at the Ruined Fort of Granada—How they Land there—Sensation amongst the Spectators—Entrance to the City—The Abandoned Convent of San Francisco—The Houses of the Inhabitants—First Impressions—Soldiers and Barricades—Thronged Streets—Señor Don Frederico Derbyshire—“Our Host”—A Welcome—Official Courtesies—Our Quarters—First Night in Granada, 91

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