Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-21
PORT OF SAN JUAN DE NICARAGUA,
ITS POSITION, COMMERCE. AND RESOURCES

ITS POSITION, CoMMERCEs AND RESOURCES.
FROM HUNTS MERCHANTS MAGAZINE FOR JUNE.
The port Of San Juan derives its principal importance from
the fact that it is the only possible eastern terminus for the
proposed grand canal through the territories OF
via the river San Juan and Lake Nicaragua and
from the further circumstances of being the only available port
Of Nicaragua upon the Atlantic. The habo il not large,
yet il 10 altogether spacious and betsr than u
generally supposed. The easy and vessels OF
the largest class find difficulty in passing the mouth, and
obtaining within safe and commodious anchorage II has
been represented that in consequence the peculiar make Of
the land it is extremely difficult 10 be found This true
certain extent; bu, although the coast in the immediate
vicinity is low yet short distance back the land is high
and characteristic, and cannot be mistaken With proper
charts correct sketches Of the coasts, and with
on Point Arenas every difficulty would be obvsted This
evident even the unproessonai observer The harbor
probably adequate to every purpose connected with the
proposed canal.
The town Of San Juan consists Of fifty sixty pamhstch
ed houses rather hut arranged with deglee of
lsry, upon The southwestern shore of the harbor It
supported entirely by the trade carried on through and lie
inhabitants dependant upon the supplies brought down
from the INTERIOR furnished rom trading vessels for the
of subsistence There are no cultivated lands in the
vicinity. and excepting the space occupied by the
town. and few acres on the point island opposite where
small number of cattle na pasturage the primitive forest
is unbroken by cearngs Of any description. The ground
upon which the town is buts sandy and although elevated
but few feet above the water is nevertheless dry The
county oil around is low, and short distance back from
the shore marshy and ntespersed with agunas
After penetrating number Of miles into the Interior how
higher land Is found and soil adapted for every pur
pose Of cultivation.
Although tho climate Of San Juan is warm and Damp
is exempt from the fevers and epdemcs which prevail in
most places similarly situated upon the shores Of the Gulf Of
Mexico and Caribbean could not learn that any
of the yellow fever pomo, have occurred here and
when the cholera in 1887 Give years after the period Of it's
ravages in the United Sstes devastated the interior, and
almost aepopuated all the ports to the nothward and south
ward San Juan entirely escaped its vstaons Itmay safely
be said that there few if any ports under the tropics of
equal sautty. The Of the SOIL the fact that the
malaria Of the coast is constantly swept back BY the northeast
trades and that good may be obtained in abundance
depth of few feet below the surface, doubt contribute
this result i however, singular fact which vouched
for by the older residents Of San Juan, that the island
pose shore d the habor, not than half mile Distant
and which, m the greater depth of water Immediately 'front.'
ing it. and from other circumstances, seems 10 be the best
site for town. fatal to those who may attempt to occupy
it. settlement commenced there number Of years
ago. but the inhabitants decmated within the first
months, upon which the removed to the other shore
The same cause it is said, led to the abandonment Of the
the revolt Of the colonies. The of this difference
apparent but doubt the fact to exist amongst
the inhabitants Foreigners at San Juan, however, by OBJ
serving ordinary aud proper precautions Iced not am con-
nced form exceptions to the general good health of the
native inhabitants.
The temperature Of San Juan varies little with the diff
ferent Of the year. but is generally pleasant differing
not much sm that Of New York in the month of July The
range of the thermometer not however, great with
during that month During my stay in June, ls49, and
upon my return in the month in 1850, the range
from 74o Of Fahrenheit SUNRISE $50 the hottest hour
of the day. In the evening there is usually pleasant and
sea breeze.
The population Of the does not exceed three hundred
having considerably diminished since the English usurpaon
Besides what may be called the native inhabitants. and which
exhibit the characteristics in language, habits, and
toms with the lower classes in the interior Of the State there
few foreigners and creoles Of pure stock, who
side here agents or consgnees OF houses and as
commission dealers There also the English authorities,
consisting chiefly Of negroes from Jamaica. The inhabitants
therefore, EXHIBIT every variety Of and complexion
Whites indians, negroes, mestzos and Sambos-back,
brown yellow and far-a mngs together with the utmost
freedom and total disregard those conventionaes which
founded In what might be called the best f
lies il it possible TO institute comparisons the wrong
side Of zero thing to find three and four
shades Of complexion from which may be inferred that the
social reons very lax. This is unfortunately the fact
the examples which have been upon this coast times
past by Jamaica traders have had the effect improve
morals There is neither church schoohouse in San
Juan indeed In the whole of what the Eugish cetous
call tho "Mosquito Kingdom Before the seizure this
curacy dependant upon the Cathedral Of Leon, bat subse
quepy to that event vacated in consequence Of the
obstacles thrown in the way Of its continuance Ivy the English
officials whose high Of christian duty would not per-
mil them TO tolerate any thing hut the English Church, which
believe the established religion throughout the domnons
II :" His Mosquito M.esty Occasionally priest, in his
slack robes fitting about the town, but unless it is
desired find the residence Of the petes Of the
senortas It always prudent MOTTO inquire closely
nto his movements.
The dwellings Of the inhabitants already inmated are
# the rudes and most primitive description, and make
approach what in the United Saes would be regarded
ont houses. They are fact mere matched
heds roughly boarded up and foored made Of kind Of
wicker work Of canes, sometimes asered with mud
The furniture, which seldom consists of than ham
nack, high table, few chairs, and bed, is entirely in
keeping with the edice. Yet mean and unnving as
these structures are, they answer very good purpose in
climate where any thing beyond roof to keep of the sun
and rains may almoH be regarded superfuity. The
heavy haich Of palm leaves long grass ectua pro-
lection against these, and though furnishes excellent quar-
for scorpions small sepent and other pleasant colons
yet these to excite apprehenscDs and with the
mice and cockroaches, sink into places The sting
the domestic scorpion, far able 10 learn of its
effects from Others having myself experienced IT,
much than that Of wasp homet and seldom pro-
duces any serious result The aIacran del monte scorpion
the Forest wild Scorpion be dreaded its sting
sometimes induces fever causing the tongue TO swell TO
render difficult impossible. They iDfct
their sting unless pressed upon accidentally disturbed by
some part Of the person. They quite in
baby being brought there with the Brazil wood the knots
and crevices Of which afford them excellent Judgments And
while upon insects may mention kind of ea called nigua
by the Spaniards, and gger by the West Indian English,
which generally attacks the feet working its way, without
being felt beneath the skin, and then depong its eggs
small sack speedily forms around these which constantly in
in first creating itching sensation and after
wards, unless removed becoming painful When small,
they may be extracted without difficulty but when larger the
operation Is delicate and often painful for the sack broken
bad ulcer, extremely liable to inflammation and sometimes
affecting the entire foot and leg, probable result The