The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-22

OF light thrown upon the subject The O4nmDus Is
considered dead from yesterday, beyond redemption
Central merica-The River Coc0-and the
Mosquito Indians.
LETTER FROM HON. E. GEO. sQUIER.
WAsHISGToS, July Is, 1850.
Shortly before leaving Central America 1 had
placed in my hands by my friend Colonel Diaz, Of
the Nicaragua army and Project Of the Department OF
New segovia, paper relating to the important river
ofCoco, (sometimes know as Wanks, or Segova) ana
the country bordering it, also conveying some facts
concerning the Indians dwelling at its mouth consti
tuting part OF the Moscos Mosquitoes, OF which we
have lately heard so much AS Central America Is
nov sscpg arge sha1s OIL PUBLIC , @ 's, -
interest, have taken the trouble to make hurried
TRANSLATION which which Is at your dis
posal The river Coco, may mention, has its mouth in
the Cape Grscias Dios Is some three hundred miles
In length being the largest stream in Central America
and takes its rise in the Department OF Segovia at
Nicaragua a department unsurpassed for the salu-
brity of it's climate its agricultural and its
mineral wealth. Here found all the productions
of the temperate zone almost by side with those
of the tropics circumstance which, In conjunc ton
with Other advantages will give this section high
want, Il. GEO. sQUIER.
TO THE PREPEcT OF THE DEPARTMENT or NEW
sEGovIA
OcorAL, April 25, 1850
SIR As you have desired to receive from
exact account Of the observations which made my
voyage down the river Coco to its mouth, at Cape
Gracias Dos in 1872 have the honor to submit the
following =
not fail to discover that the river high traffic is
proposed to be carried is amply navgabe and that
there few obstacles from the point called Coco to
that called in the Mosque CMosquito) dialect Paila
just above the latter point there falls into 1t
large and beautiful river :, ma, named Bocsy' the
tasms, ON the right hand, descending There are
other medium sized tributaries, among which is the
Poteca rising on the left side Of the mountain sur
rounding the great valley Of Jslapa at point called
macarali 1t Is too rough for navigation. There Is
also the river Goa ich flows from the south along
/
fish, and the forest is rich in honey also in valuable
woods the supply of which could not be exhausted In
pass now to describe the rapids which commence
at the place called Psilla They which
has q strong current, and broken narrow channel
between the rocks bat which may be passed without
the least danger. Ulacuz, which is similar, but also
without danger, Astounding in water derived from the
great river Ulacus which falls the right from
fearful (Expantoss) mountains, In my opinion extend
ing to the southeast Guascuru has its rapids which,
though somewhat abrupt, without risk in the pas
ssge Quiorox is similar, though there is fall before
arriving to IL, around which, however, nature has
formed canal so that the navigation Of the river Is
uninterrupted. TuruQuitan Is = rapid narrows
which is only dangerous for the sportaton Of cat
tie, on account OF great rock IN the middle of a
stream upon which, If the not dexterous,
the RATS to But accidents mas
much as the osrsmen are accustomed to TINS KIND OF
unmportsnt rapid At Crantara the current Is strong,
but the passage entirely practicable as is also the
sight terrifes the voysger with its rushing foaming
and tsmpestuous waters yet does not prevent his pas
for overcoming the difficulty and made 4 side canal
before arriving at the dangerous ront hy means Of
which the boats can be passed by the oarsmen in an
hour with entire safety Tilras and Quipispe the
final rapids, and are unim portant.
These the sole distractions to the navigation Of
the river from the point Of embarkatou to the at
Cape Gracas Dios At present the descent occupies
about ten days Two days taken In descen
the rapids here described and four In them
II will be observed that only about 9th part of the
river IL In any way obsructed The delay In the voy
age Ii chiefly occssoned by unloading and relosdins
.I.v. tha In el
named pids to the Cape there IL scarcely any cur
rent and IL necessary to use the oars This part Of
the country through which the river passes, Is very
beautiful being posed Of open plains covered with
grass and scattered trees IL Is section we'll adapted
TO raising black cattle ard horses also to the intro
ducton Of colonies which in few years, could attain
10 prosperity and riches upon its virgin soil In cui
waiting its numerous valuable native fruits and in
consequence Of its proximity to the Cape and the great
Antilles anordiDg easy means OF expectation and
market Mules and horses may here be raised in the
attest abundance and probably shipped to Cubs,
Jamaica. and other points where most valued
IL Is lsmeptsbl TO find beautiful coast With no
other population except worthless Moscos tMosqui
tos) unable, from want OF education, as united by
deposition, TO attain to any improvement In the fu-
ture will epdea,or to give som. idea OF their savage
situation and customs Most Of them subsst by hunt
ing and hshiDg, and n very few by rude and petty
agriculture Planting in little patches on the borders
Of the river small quantities OF plsntsns yucas
sweet cane. and cotton. the last Of which IL rudey
spun and woven by the women, in the form Of ban.
netting for featberwork Some Of their f.sther-work
is quite beautiful. They make Kind Of cloth Of thu
and covering at night They celebrate the anniver-
ssries Of the death OF their parents friends with
most doleful and unharmouous songs snd wailings,
which ere enough to put the timd traveller to flight
This mourning or lamentaton IL chiefly performed by
the women, under a tent 81 " uni" bark Some per-
form the ceremony walking backwards and for
wards for the distance of about one hundred yards,
in the following manner They advance four or
Eve steps and then fall fat their chest and face
With force appsr. ntly great enough to kill them
selves. repeating the same bsrbsric ceremony until
the night closes Some paint their faces With schiote
la araI H. a .ka H.
most rendered horrible from tn, operation They
all very much addicted TO strong drinks and when
dram IL given them they exhibit great satisfaction
and endssvor return som. article witch their stus
ton enables them Go give But this IL dove the
ment, and the favor Is soon forgotten They appear
Kind and exert themselves to please strangers who
may visit their huts; for though there among
them ssme bad and disorderly Indisns, yet there
are very few Who viii offer any violence to
the traveller, principally, however on account
Of the tear in which they stand Of their ebiefs to
OBJ dspcs or any crime they are severely punished so
that traders may carry their rtc With little fear
ofinsu or injury They are fond Of dances for which
they provide fsrmented liquors % Juice and yuca
In great abundance and when the day Fixed upon
rivss great number Of families collect, all having
their fces fsntssticslly painted. when they are
gathered two marked dancers open the dance appear
Ing suddenly from the depths 81 the forest where they
are PREVIOUSLY hidden. dressed In palm leaves, and
enter square covered with pdcsps leaves where they
dance whole day. Joined by many people Mean.
While most Of the guests remain in about the hut OF
th,ir host drinking sagerly the fermeuted liquors,
vhiehbeng strong upset them producing violent
venting Upon recovering little and the sun some
what declining the males form their dance apart from
ihe woms making use. ss Instruments ~ music Of
dn'soundios drum and Of some great hosrse sounding
pipes OF hollow sds the noise Of which IL frightfu
by some nall pipes to the measure Of bich
rude Instruments the musicians ~,i rs the people
oanc. unth nine or ten o'clock ut night The women,
hsc srart commence their dance at eight o'clock at
nigbt tno continue until Eve In the merning They
iofm right line, enc taking the hand 81 the other,
.ccsNwnsy separating and shaking rafting gourd,
70 me sound ot which accompanied by low chsunt,
ihey dance ~ can hardly be sid that any Of these
dsnees are worth seeing but Is certain thai. In spite
OF thtr estrsvsssnce they do not fail greatly 10
smufe the civilized spectator
Some Of thee Noscos Mosquitos) raise mares In |
considerable numbers. and some few cows besides
which they have little commerce with Beu,s from
which place are brought pieces Of clothing iron
po's Runs axss and other articles which are carried
20 different points In the valley Of Pab,ama the ola
Lock ont and ts the town Of Talpeueca where tbev
unchanged for calves OF wears ola which
spe carried in bslsss (rsfts) down to the coast
The chief or Ming" who At this time 20.
veirtd thee saveges was man Of small sta |
1T