The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-27

/
ing TO the last slept soundly and Notwithstanding
all our efforts failed in getting alarmed or excited.
BY and by the general of the forces OF the state
rived at the head of six hundred men, the bells
were rung, guns fired, and the people breathed
! freer.
Next day twenty five of our party, hearing of the
approach of the American Minister, MIR. Squier,
came down from Leon in uniform of red flannel
shirts armed TO the teeth, like brgands, and swore
| 10 carry the American legation through. put ON
the same uniform, and we made quite conspicu-
Gus well formidable looking escort for our
/ countrymen.
! The next evening, with the American flag at the
head, and the party escorted by all the dgnitaries
OF Grenada, we started for Leon, one hundred and
| fifteen miles distant The people stared as we
passed through the villages, rang the bells OF their
| churches, and ''ppd'd" loud and long for the
'vaant Americans" but particularly Tor the
minister" whose presence III the country, IT was
| expected, would exercise an omnpotent influence
| for good Poor devils, they are tired enough of
civil connections, and long for nothing 80 much as
peace and quiet have no room to tell you OF the
magnihcence Of the country through which we
passed, its picturesque towns, lofty volcanoes and
beautiful lakes. How the people flocked TO stare at
US But the minister the great object of their
| curiosity, SCI Ministro-El Ministro Americana"
was echoed from every quarter, and hundreds,
or rather thousands crowded up to shake his hands.
| MIR. Squer sustained his position with great Dig
nifty and courtesy of manner, which seemed to win
the hearts of all. Now and then he would converse
with Spanish gentlemen who rode up TO him, and
again with the Indians when they had an opportu-
nifty to approach him. At length got near Leon,
| (once equalled in population and riches only by
Mexico,) and thence came forth the dignltaries OF
the army, the church and the state with the bishop
in his purple robes at their head; and with this
cort, glittering with gold, entered the city, I'M
| der national salute from the plaza, and amidst
the din of the bells of the great cathedral and the
churches, the shouts of the multitude, the barking
of dogs and the furious clatter OF horses hoos over
| the pavements. High mass said in the cathe
dral for the safe arrival of the minister. There
display of fireworks AT night, serenades until
| morning, when there was grand levee, and every
| body came TO shake lands with his excelency, who
performed his part most admirably. In fact, we all
participated in the respect and hospitality shown to
| Mr.. Squier and felt hat it was happy event for
| us and our country. So much for the reception of
| the legation
| send you some newspapers which contain full
| accounts of the speeches made by Mr. Squier and
the Nicaraguan authorities, and of other incidents
connected with this arrival 1t is, therefore,
cessary for me to repeat them. will only add,
that the people lool upon this introduction of the
United States Their only hope of peace, of indie
| pendence and property. God grant that their
| hopes may be gratiied. Mr.. Stephens must have
seen these people alta great disadvantage In the
| intercourse of our company with them have
| found them industrious, hospitabe and kind igno-
rant, it is true, andin past times led by designing
rpen to upon their own interests With proper
| direction from enlightened minds, they might be-
| come great peoph.
| THE THREsHlNG FESTIVAL, OR HARvEsT-HoME AT
|
In far off part bf the plain the vast crops of
hosts corn had been collected; and all the family
| some on horseback, some in carriagcs-proceeded
at early hour t. the grand function OF threshing
| it out. The tret, as this process is called is
| great rural feast We rode the tract of stub
| bic from which il had been cut, putting up par
tridges in numbers cantered along, till
| shouts and a crowd showed US where the entertain
| ment was 10 be fen Several sheds of boughs had
been made, in which were refreshments provided
by the landlord company of horsemen
keeping toset.ie an enormous herd of horses, prin
cipally mares and foals. Ii said there were
three thousandI did not count them
and most singular appearance they had, for these
animals never used except Tor this purpose
The rest of the rear they allowed to Craze at
liberty the lover slopes and valleys of the
tains. The bestare picked out Tor sale and the use
of the estate.
The mares had been subjected TO a process that
did add 10 their beauty; this a close crop of
their tails and mains. was told this necessary
70 prevent their falling prey 10 the puma, which
abounds here, and which, dartng from ambush on
the horse, is generally thrown of by the startled
animal If he has not this Of securing his hold
None of the animals here fine save one
ma gnifcent bay mule, which it required a keen
eye to distinguish from horse. The people, too,
have such di4erent taste in horses from oursevcsi
Great fat and large tail essentials; but they
well aware that the horses they prize for show
ing off in the capital not good for work; 80
they ride less snowy and more useful animals in
the country.
A huge circle was rallied in by enormous posts
the interstices fenced with bushes; this was filed
with straw unthreshed to a height of full six feet.
The approach OF our party seemed the signal for
operations To commence, and the horsemcn drove
the herd of horses up lane formed ofempty wagons
into the ring. At first they could only get on
by furious jumps, but, the whole drove in,
half the grain at least was trOdden down. Several
horsemen now stood in the entrance, and the rest,
dividing the horses into droves with shouts yells
and whirling lassQcs, began to make them gallop
round In the centre was enormous pile, which,
As that on the sides became trodden down, was
thrown upon them. Every two or three minutes
the whole body turned and galloped the contrary
way; TO avoid giddiness, some of the old stagers
ran into the centre. and were only compelled to
leave after many cuts and shouts.
The fatigue OF the poor animals must have been
tremendous, and the horsemen at the entrance had
frequently 10 stand back and allow some poor weak
foal to get out. This opportunity was generally
taken advantage of by others also; and then began
a hunt; the horsemen who outside in in
slant pursuit, and with wild shouts, flying ponchos
and unerring lasso ready, galloped after them.
Few, noticed aver allowed the lasso TO be thrown
but when they found speed would not clear them,
resigned themselves 10 their fate, and came sulkily
back In fact, all allow that such is the severity of
the shock, occasoned by being caught that an
animal which has once felt il forgets il. This
can easily be believed, and the very boys in driving
cattle check the refractory horse by mere
y whir two Of the long thong they have at the
end of their rein. After the animals had, with
few short intervals, been driven about for three
hours, they were let out; nor did any seem xious
TO wander far, exhausted and done they
all When il is considered that these animals are
principally mares and young foals, the smallness
and wcedy appearance of the race of horses in the
country If easily accounted for; as, with few ex
ceptions, ALL at some period of their lives, undergo
/ this work. They come down fat and full from the
rich pastures Of the valleys, and this labor general
/ y quite uses them up.-Fo,1 Years an The Pacific.
| MEDICINAL QUALITIES OF THE GRAPB.-The N.
Y. Commercial, in article on the grape, states
that this fruit is of the best and most wholesome
medicines. This affords an additional inducement
for the culture Of this popular fruit The Com
| mecidI says.
| -In the vineyard districts of France, Spain, and
otter wine growing countries, the medicinal prop
ertes Of the grape well known and highly
| priced. The free of this fruit, as we arc adj
vis,d, has most salutsry effect upon the animal
system, diluting the blood, removing distractions
in the liver, Kidneys spleen, and other important
| organs, giving healthy tone and vigor to the cir
cuhtion, and generally augmentng the strength
of he entire animal economy. In diseases of the
liver, and especially in that monster compound af
Fiction dyspepsia, the salutary and potent influence
Of grape diet il we'll known in France. The