The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-06-01
Central America.
Correspondence Of the Herald
POINT ARENAS, CENTRAL AMERICA, I
March Isf. 1916

POINT ARENAS, CENTRAL AMERICA,
March LIST, 1916
DEAR SIR Since my last, from the other side of
the land, have been on an excursion round Cape
Horn, in the beautiful little brig Sourbug, Chat is
not her name, but ought to be, that insect
as near her appearance as any thing you can ina
gine.) She is an excellent sea-boat and all that
sails net fast but strong had very fine passage
in the brig, all things considered, down to Point
Arenas, west coast of Central America, State of
Costa Rica Point Arenas is the sea-coast Of Carta-
co. 10 miles in the interior, and is the only seaport
in the State "this side Of the land" 1t is a
new and fourishing little village, containing
about $50 houses, all matched with grass,
and all built of reeds, with the exception of the
tom house, or "Casa de Ladrones" as the Spaniards
call it. LITERALLY house of theives,) and few Others
which are passab!e buildings. The staple Of this
commands good price in England, where the grea-
ter part of II is shipped February Is the harvest
time OF the coffee, and in that month there are
vera vessels here loading, some few, go to valpa-
ralso but the greater part 60 to England. There
can be procured here, also, pearls pearl and tortoise
shell, some indigo and logwoed. All the tropical
fruits are to be found but the chef vegetable plan
cultivated to any extent Point Arenas, as its name
Denotes Is sandy point extending into the guilt Of
Nlcoya, and Is q very good harbor, as it seldom
blows very hard there-then there is an excellent
harbor inside of the point for small vessels, cay Of
200 tons, where they can lay secure from all winds ;
but outside, they are exposedto s. w. winds, which
are the sea breezes here; however, as 1t seldom
blows fresh here, the roads are safe enough Some
people who own property further down the gulf,
was, to place called Calderas, and which was so
ssickly that the inhabitants all died. They will
hardly succeed In changing it again, think-a pity
they should this is all than can be desired From
r. A. L went down n a placo called Chunui in Tho
State OF Neuva Grenada; that is small port (called
by some David between which and Panama a small
trade Is carried on in hides shell, sarsapara, &c
The town of David is about fifty miles up the river,
and is only navgable for very small vessels, but at
the mouth OF the river Is commodious harbor for
any class of vessels, well sheltered. The duty on
all American goods was excessively high when ]
was there, but has since been reduced Owing to
the high duties then made no business there. Ii
was during the month Of October was on that part
Of the it rained necessarily with very SHARP
ghnlng and heavy thunder, strong squalls and Gains
alternately, and q tremendous sea on. 1t is GER
talnly the most disagreeabe part of the coast be-
| tween Panama and Guatemala. There is very re-
markable waterfall in the neghborhood of David,
which PUSHES out of lake over precipce thou
sand feet deep, and two hundred feet wide the lake
IS 10000 feet above the level of the sea- and can be
be seen seventy or eighty miles off; it is a good
mark tor finding Chnqui; when seen from the sea,
Il mas the appearance OF wide road up the side of
the mountain
From Chinqui proceeded to San Carlos, sea port
OF San Miguel in the State of San Salvador This is
very capacious harbor, and very snug except in
northeast winds, when 1t is rather rough however,
as the holding ground is good there is danger OF
vessel going ashore. At San Miguel, As miles in
land, there is annual fair for the sale of indigo
In the month of November; there and then mer-
chants meet from all the adjoining States and buy
and sell indigo, barter, trade, &c. Indigo is the
staple OF this province, and is raised in great abun-
dance and of the finest quality The fair this year
was very poor affair, as all the people are up in
arms warning against, Nicaragua, the. adjoining
ness, and instead of seeing fifteen or twenty vessels
at the port, there were only four or fve and they
went away, empty AT San Miguel is an immense
volcano, which can be seen for a hundred miles at
seat does not burn at present
Molespin is President Of this State now. He is 4
negro of low origin; don't laugh-all negroes are
not OF low origin, at least not here. Negroes rise
as high as any others in these States But this
gro Is of low origin, is ugly the devil, brutal
el, and tyrannical; drunkard and cut throat; his
sister keeps aylendo or shop in San Carlos, fire.
quened by all the sailors from the shipping, and BY
her brothers soldiers She is rather the best of the
two; The soldiers would parallel Falstaff' in pon
OF clothing Ipresume they call them light infantry
from the manner In which they are equipped, bu
really they are famous fellows for forced marches
bear fatgues that would kill white man-and live
on very small amount Of food, and sleep tn.
bare ground with perfect impunity. There is no dis
cipline amongst them-after the first charge OF
discharge, every man fights on his own hook, and
WITCH lie gctS urea OF Hgntlng runs away or Joins
the other party. When they want soldiers they pres.
them, and after getting them to quarter, when they
want them to muster, instead of beating the drum
they send round corPorals to find them-then the
where are you?-we are looking for ,you-..he line
IS forming-run and fall in" "Oh, damn the line
I've got no musket." "Well, get Juan Fenera's
he's sick" While this is going on in one part, the
same, or nearly the same, is taking place nearly al
over town. at last they get them together, and such
set of ragged. dirty, cut throat looking individuals
you never saw. Then they are put through theil
PAGES for an hour or SO, and after making an hun
dred blunders are dismissed. They poor regular
soldiers but Spaniard like, are excellent ''guerillas,
Molespin gets drunk and orders one or two shot fo
some .trifing offence, and, perhaps, the next day
asks for one OF them Some one replies, "Peast
ySu ordered Gs % g 20 Be shot
mind" He is blood thirsty wretch and shoots
his prisoners Of war very frequently, without re-
gard to rank-he knows nothing Of the usage
Of civilized warfare. At this present writing
he is besiegng Leon, a town in Nicaragua, well
supplied with the munitions Of war; aud he will find
it difficult to take. The Nicaraguans have park
of artillery in their Plaza of 100 pieces and as the
Their General, Fernandez, is man ofmost indomi-
table courage and perseverance, and has some brave
officers under him; among the rest is Capt Morazon.
son OF the late Gen. Morazon, called the Napoleon
OF Central America, and the antipodes Of Moespin.
Young Morazon is said to possess great many OF
his fathers good qualities, and with such officers,
their successful defence is said to be almost certain
MolesPn has also some fine officers one French
man, Gen Saget, who disapproves Of the command
erin-chief tactics and says if they have to retreat
the chances are ten TO one against their being cut
to pieces. IT'S true they have their nien-ofwar TO
retreat to 1.-TWO schooners and brig) but single
faur pas In their movements will cause the annihi-
latlon OF the army.
At the mouth of the entrance of the harbor of
San Carlos, in San Salvador, is remarkable boiling
spring-and while lying IN the harbor made one Of
party TO visit it, 1t is close to the waters edge,
among rocks, and is not very deep-one Of our party
undertook to some Of the stones out Of il
as to be able to dip pitcher in for some water, not
thinking of the heat, and scalded his hands very
badly for which he got laughed at heartily Of course
While we were there the wind commenced blowing
very hard from the northeast and we could not get
back, and had no provisions-we had to forage
round and pick up birds eggs, which we boiled in
the spring and made most delicious repast-to-
wards night the wind moderated and we got back
on board. We filed demDohn Of the water, in
tended for Doctor Chiffon, of your city to analyze,
but unfortunately il got broken. More in my next.