Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-16
DUNLoPs TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AMERICA.


Il
near Ayr in 1915 and grandson of the Mrs. Dunlop
who first patronized Burns After the usual education Of
Scottish parocha school, he became student at the London
University, and made rapid progress not only in literature
and mathematics but chemistry botany and other branches
of natural sciences the traces of which studies are visible IN
his travels When he quilted the university he entered mer
chants counting house, and subsequently went mer
camille capacity. From incidental remarks his volume he
would to have visited the East Indies as well the
West In March, 1874, he embarked for Central America
where he died. the LIST of January, ls47, of fever
to the country, the sixth of brothers who rest
| in foreign SOIL
Before the of Dunlop death arrived in England his
book, which finished Guatemala in December last had
passed through the press The object of the author in writ
ing have been less give account of his per-
sona proceedings than furnish the English reader with
trustworthy information respecting Central America =;
all the publications the subject which Mr. Dunlop had
having been merely notices of hurried travels through
the country which, while Astounding with papabe naccura
ces contained statistical useful information OF any de-
scrpton The first part Of the book consists Of extracts
from his Journal and contains narrative of various journeys
made different throughout the length of the State
and of residence of months at Amatitan,
clinical district His travels not without adventure
but solid information is the distinguishing feature of the
ume The physical character of the country, its natural
|
ed with the and prospects of business generally the
matters which the author principally dwels Even
does the incidents of the way appear be selected for
indications they contain of the state of society the
haracer of the Government by any formed design but
in compliance with the bent Of the writer's mind
This peculiarly gives much closeness and sodiy to the
"Travels in Central America, and inuses into them large
quantity of useful and various INFORMATION There
thing in Mr. Dunlop of the artistcaI htteaeu the twad
ding NARRATOR resolved upon writing book and making
something of nothing. When he arrives place. its
natural capabilities port for raising produce first
garded then actual condition. and the be done,
the prospects of doing it. The social and moral state Of
he population attract his attention with the Government
Government, happens be- 1t is the his
journeys Amy natural phenomenon any industrial
poymen is first considered and the difficulties of the road,
the absence of accommodations the asts of the eass
of pedicsl, little civil war; encounter with robbers
even the sketch of travelling companion contain something
beyond the anecdote instance, and Indicate direct
y convey information respecting Central America There
good deal of closeness in Mr. Dunops style; but this
coseness with the character of of its
subjects, occasionally a degree of dryness
Central America extends from about the 9th the 9th de-
gree Of north latitude having, with trfng exception at
either extremity of the country, seaboard both the Pacific
and the Atlantic 1t is the REGION too, through which
communication between both must ALL be
made by of the river ST. Juan and the lakes Nicaragua
and Leon (beween the h and 18th degrees of north la-
tude) Before this take place. however, something like
government be established in the country for the
anarchy and civil which in 1889 distracted the called
Republic, when Stephens, with credentials and diploma
tic dess-coat hunted about the country Government
without finding one has settled down species of Celtic
independence Mr. Dunlop (unlike Montgomery and Ste
phens who proceeded from the Aanic) landed the Paci-
fc coasts and his personal observations confined the
districts the side of the Andes Here the four
provinces of Costa RIGA, Nicaragua, Salvador and Guatemala
had each Governments of their Such, too, the
with Honduras, the Atlantic, and apparently with the
Mosquito coast if it be State These Governments how
ever stable, but liable be oyerhrown by
rival province internal revolution moments no
ce Security for person property there is none, unless
perhaps for Engshmen Mr. Dunlop had long arrived at
San Miguel in the State of San Salvador before he had
sample of the posture of affairs.
War had just been declared against the of Guae-
maa and the Government occupied in catching
soldiers like wild cattle here and in all parts of the State and
raising money by forced contributions that the fair which
about to take place, must prove entire failure Those
who had any thing to be robbed OF wereakng themselves oil
quickly possible, and the people hiding in
the woods avoid being taken for soldiers. My acquant
ance, Don Chosanto Medina, and friend of his Spaniard
Don Francisco Gera wished to make all their property
prevent its being seized for Government contrbu-
tons told them that they welcome to do So but that
if seized should be able claim from the
eminent through her Britannia Maestys Consul he would
probably require that the property mine
fore making the claim. This difficulty seemed surprise them
good DEAL false oath is thought nothing OF in Spanish
America and they tried the Jesus argument, that the
oath would be made for bad purpose in order to get
my scrupes but finding that they could convince
me- they obliged take other schemes for protecting
their property They managed badly that afterwards
learned, the Government got 10, 600 dollars from them
The troops thus raised by kidnapping do be of
the highest kind either in mette appearance Here are
some Nicaaguans whom author fell in with at Chinen
| dega.
"Thc Government of Nicaragua had for some time been
urged by that of Saint Salvador them against Guate
ma and had pretended comply about twenty days prev
ousy sending forward 1000 but, instead of assisting
San Salvador they conducted against Honduras, in
which State the Grand Marshal Fonsecus who supreme in
Nicaragua, hoped effect revolution But turned out
very differently for the invaders, being attacked by much
inferior force Of Honduras troops fled the sgraceiu
MANNER the soldiers throwing away their arms and the off
their uniforms which they had made up bundles
put and exhibit in the capital Of Honduras The
Of Chinendega full Of the runaways-he drest mob of
aged rascas ever behed had entire shirt, and
for trousers had only leg the other being away
As usual in Central American wars all the away
the Forest leaving the take of the houses udg
ing, would APPEAR that they could be taken Tor sol
ders they would only be improved by little communication