New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-04
NICARAGUA,
LETTER PROM JULIUS ERGBIL.


Jnan-Water-rhe streets-A Bail-The
Rule OF the EnsIish-The Harbor, &c.
Saw JUAN DE- NICARAGUA, Nov. =, 1917
II sAs EdstOrsS( The Tribvae.
Ibid not write to you from Chagres, from van
OF time and aconvenient place. Our little '''S0'
was devoted TO business, and on shore PeiSonS
frequently paid s. and $40 for ory piSCe "
nspd the night Here, do not Just iacA tne
MON which. according to physical laws oody
uust occuuv. but my time is also limited leave
so-sorrow on my journey up the river. Vi the
tUo little steamers which were sent hlther from
New.York, one was wrecked on its first trip, and
nothing has been heard Of the other, so that am
compelled to prepare for life in the Wilderness
Of from ten TO fourteen days-making few miles
by day against the strong current, lying at anchor
al night in the middle Of the stream, hunting a
breakfast with my gun in the morning and COOK
ing It on the bank After two months at sea-
shall still have to subsist for two or three weeks
on ship fare since from here to San Carlos, where
the Nicaragua Custom House is established, there
are no civilized habitations. For this reason
have been obliged TO make many preparations for
the journey, during my stay here.
The country ia the interior, around the lakes
and as far as the Pacific Ocean, is described by
the Numerous Californians who arrive here on
their way home as perfectly enchanting: "such
q land as you have never seen ia real para
disc -" the most magnificent and wonderiu
country in the world - and hundred other su-
perlatives, in which even the most prosaic money
maker have met, expresses bis delight.
In the neighborhood of this place there only
q few scattered families of Indian descent, who
i've in primitive condition in the woods They
have kept themselves almost entirely aloof from
The influence OF the Europeans, and offer an inter
ssting field TO the student OF Ethnology. The
white Indians-I adiaa0s Blanc0s--a different
race are confined to range Of mountains in the
interior. The entire lowland, far and wide, is
covered with the dense primitive forest, in the
highest luxuriance of tropical vegetation, and in
habited by wild beasts of all kinds. A few PAGES
behind this village there is a mirrorlke lagoon,
out of which rises thick growth Of trees Of in
comparable beauty. Here droop grand masses Of
foliage there rise shadowy arches, here adrapery
Of vines, there the superb crown of palm, are
re Elected in the water as clearly as in mirror of
polished crystal You may take small canoe
and glide for miles through the galleries of shade.
Apes and parrots sit and chatter on the boughs,
strange fishes dart here and there between the
Trunks, and troops of sgators lie in wait iortheir
prey
The Chagres River is said to present views of
wonderful beauty, but il can hardly equal the San
Juan. AS regards Chagres ITSELF 1t far surpasses
San Juan in picturesque location Here the land
is perfectly fiat there the old Castle of San LO-
reno, perched ON bluff at the entrance Of the
river, commands the town and fine view OF the
inland hills But Chagres is not place for men
who retain any degree of moral susceptibility
Large Sheds filled with men who hold fast with
their bands the pockets of their dirty aud ragged
clothes or hardly dare to leave their chests by day
or night; fevered invalids holloweyed, creeping
figures, lame with ugly wounds and sores liquor
and gaming tables. standing in Shiny hith-these
are the characteristic features OF the American
City" on the left side Of the Cnagres River. The
"nigger town. on the opposite shore, romantic
ally located at the foot OF the castle bluii is much
cleaner, and were | damned to live in Chagres |
would choose this side, certain to find the ma
tive population better in every respect than the
whites.
San Juan has totally different character. The
English preserve an excellent police which Is
very useful so long as the piece has no strength
Of its own. | must admit Sis, little as Justify
the pratical trick by waich they got possession
Of this port driving out the Legitimate authorities
Gaming tables are prohibited, and the weapons
Of overland travellers are required 10 be deposited
at the guard. house. The streets are perfectly
clean. When heavy rains fall, a clear stream
runs here and there through the place, bat there
il never any mud The sofia deposit oil volcanic
sand-inmediately abSorbs all water, IN whatever
ouAutity il may fall. lfyOu pour bottle OF water
upon the earth, in one minute there IS not Drop
nor sign of il to be seen. But two ieet under the
surface there is an inexhaustible supply OF tina
purest water An empty barrel sunk in the sand
Is perpetual spring.
The streets OF San Juan are perfectly straight
broad and mostly overgrown with smooth grass
This peculiarly, with the structure OF the houses
gives the place quite Countrywide aspect. Ina.
CINE NOrth-German village, with ITS thatched
roofs built in straight line, and you Will have
tolerable idea of San Juan, so long as you are not
reminded by an orange tree garden OF red
peppers OF the leaiy crown OF cocoapam, that you
are not in the ReighborhOOd of Bremen or Ham
burg. The houses with few exceptions, are butt
Of stakes, bound together, aud thatched with
palm leaves | have noticed windows IN but
single one. Hammocks are the only convenient
ces for sleeping the merchant shngs his In his
store above his commodities. The comforts OF
hfe, you see, are not very numerous, but every
thing conforms TO nature.
The native women wear but single garment
with sometimes a thin chemisette, reaching to
the waist. Nevertheless they assume no slight
quantity of airs as lately noticed at ball given
here. They were treated with most scrupulous
gallantry According TO Spanish custom the
house where the ball was given, though private
residence, was open 20 every body, aud the
"Americanos very generally avaied themselves
OF the privilege. 4 table on one side was cover
ed with wines and liquors, and it must have APP
peared rather singular to the Yankee, that any
one should give public ball, and sell brandy TO
his guests.
The present San Juan dc Nicaragua properly
bears the English name OF Greytown, for nothing
has been left Of the old town since the British
occupation Not one Of the former huts is TO be
seen and many Of the natives have withdrawn
from the place. The present town il only few
years old. IL contains about 50 houses, Or hats,
bat il is growing rapidly. and its locality promises
every thing The climate is comparatively healthy
that is, there are no e1de-nic diseases except