IN

CENTRAL AMERICA,

PARTICULARLY IN

NICARAGUA:

WITH A DESCRIPTION OF ITS

BORIGINAL MONUMENTS, SCENERY AND PEOPLE

THEIR LANGUAGES, INSTITUTIONS, RELIGION, &c.,

ILLUSTRATED BY

NUMEROUS MAPS AND COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS.

BY

E. G. SQUIER,

LATE CHARGÉ-D'AFFAIRES OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE REPUBLICS OF CENTRAL AMERICA.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

D. APPLETON & Co., PUBLISHERS,

NEW YORK:

MDCCCLIII.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.

NARRATIVE CONTINUED.

CHAPTER XVI.—Second Antiquarian Expedition-The Shores of Lake

Managua once more-Matearas-Don Henrique's Comadre—I am en-

gaged as Godfather-An Amazon-Santa Maria de Buena Vista—A

“Character” in Petticoats—“La Negrita y La Blanquita"-Purchase

of Buena Vista-A Yankee Idea in a Nicaraguan Head-Hints for

Speculators Muchacho vs. Burro-Equestrian Intoxication—Another

Apostrophe!-Pescadors-" Hay no mas," and "Esta aqui," as Mea-

sures of Distance-Managua-The "Malpais," Nindiri and Masaya—

Something Cool-A Pompous Alcalde-How to Arrest Conspirators——

Flowers of the Palm-Descent to the Lake-Memorials of Catastrophes

-Las Aguadoras-New Mode of Sounding Depths-Ill-bred Monkeys

-Traditional Practices-Oviedo's Account of the Lake in 1529-Sar-

dines-The Plaza on Market Night-A Yankee Clock--Something

Cooler-A State Bedroom for a Minister-Ancient Church-Filling out

a Vocabulary—“Quebrada de Inscripciones"-Sculptured Rocks; Their

Character-Ancient Excavations in the Rock-"El Bano"-Painted

Rocks of Santa Catrina-Night Ride to Granada-The Laguna de Sali-

nas by Moonlight—Granada in Peace-A Query Touching Human

Happiness-New Quarters and Old Friends—An American Sailor-

His Adventures-"Win or Die"-A Happy Sequel,

3

CHAPTER XVII.-Visit to Pensacola-Discovery of Monuments—

Search for others-Success-Departure for "El Zapatero"-La Carlota

-Los Corales-Isla de La Santa Rosa-A Night Voyage-Arrival at

Zapatero-Search for Monuments-False Alarm-Discovery of Statues

-Indians from Ometepec-A Strong Force-Further Investigations——

Mad Dance-Extinct Crater and Volcanic Lake-Stone of Sacrifice-

El Canon-Description of Monuments, and their probable Origin-Life

on the Island,

43

CHAPTER XVIII.-Return to Granada-A Ball in honor of "El Min-

istro”—The Funambulos-Departure for Rivas or Nicaragua-Hills of

Scoriæ-The Insane Girl and the Brown Samaritan-A Way-side Idol

—Mountain Lakes and Strange Birds-A. Sudden Storm-Take Refuge

among the "Vaqueros"-Inhospitable Reception--Night Ride; Dark-

ness and Storm-Friendly Indians—Indian Pueblo of Nandyme--The

Hacienda of Jesus Maria-An Astonished Mayor Domo--How to get a

Supper --Jicorales - Ochomogo-Rio Gil Gonzales--The "Obraje”-

Rivas and its Dependencies-Señor Hurtado-His Cacao Plantation—

The City-Effect of Earthquakes and of Shot-Attack of Somoza―

Another American His attempt to cultivate Cotton on the Island of

Ometepec-Murder of his Wife-Failure of his enterprize-A word

about Cotton Policy-The Antiquities of Ometepec-Aboriginal Burial

Places Funeral Vases-Relics of Metal-Golden Idols-A Copper Mask

---Antique Pottery-A Frog in Verd Antique-Sickness of my Com-

panions--The Pueblo of San Jorge-Shore of the Lake-Feats of Horse-

manship-Lance Practice-Visit Potosi-Another Remarkable Relic of

Aboriginal Superstition-The Valley of Brita-An Indigo Estate-Cul

tivation of Indigo-Village of Brita-A Decaying Family and a De-

cayed Estate An Ancient Vase-Observations on the Proposed Canal

-Return alone to Granada ---- Despatches
Despatches — A forced march to

Leon,

69

CHAPTER XIX.-Volcanoes of Central America; their Number-Vol-

cano of Jorullo-Isalco-The Volcanic Chain of the Marabios-Infer-

nales-"La Baila de Los Demonios"--Volcanic Outburst on the Plain

of Leon--Visit to the New Volcano, and Narrow Escape--Baptizing a

Volcano--Eruption of Coseguina--Celebration of its Anniversary--

Synchronous Earthquakes--Late Earthquakes in Central America--

Volcano of Telica--El Volcan Viejo--Subterranean Lava Beds--Ac-

tivity of the Volcanoes of the Marabios in the 16th Century--The

Phenomena of Earthquakes--Earthquake of Oct. 27, 1849-Volcanic

Features of the Country-Extinct Craters--Volcanic Lakes-The Vol-

cano of Nindiri or Masaya-Descent into it by the Fray Blas de Cas-

tillo--Extraordinary description,
. 101

CHAPTER XX.-Christmas-Nacimientos-The Cathedral on Christmas

Eve-Midnight Ceremonies-An Alarm-Attempt at Revolution-