Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-01-17

ont their interest and value Upon the low auvions Of
the Atlantic coast and among the thick forests of that
region it is found that the Carib distributed
while in the more elevated and healthy regions around
the great of the interior and the slopes of the
Pacific coast the natives have many features in common
with the semicized nations of Mexico, Guatemala and
Yucatan The most striking chronological fact contained
in these volumes is indsputaby that relative to the NJ
graas the aboriginal inhabitants Of the ishmus
lying between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific who are
proved 10 have been colony Of the ancient Mexcans
having civil and social organization, also system OF
religion identical with those which prevailed among the
Aztecs and their affiliated nations The evidence on this
point which has heretofore been unsaefaetory is made
conclusive by Mr. Squiers comparative table of Indian
dialects prevalent in Nicaragua contrasted with the
ancient Mexican In settling the fact the author
marks he has fixed and very important point
of departure in American chronological inquiries mpor
tant because showing that this continent has not been
exempt from those mgratons which have, earlier or
later swept every part Of the old world The causes
of these mgraons must Of course remain forever CON
ectura records and traditions alike fail us in order
to explain them
The body of Mr. Squers volumes is made up of his very
interesting Personal Narrative which, together with
the Geography and Topography of Nicaragua" its
aboriginal Inhabitants" Outline of its Political
History" and treatise the Proposed Interoceanic
Canal compose the FIVE parts divisions of his work
1t is this lasnamed division which constitutes, we think,
the most valuable portion Of the entire work. and it is the
reliable information contained therein that is expected to
procure for it acceptance and demand in Engand for
which country it is understood part OF the EDITION was
engaged before publication Our English cousins are not
HKey, f~-., aaaArt that Mr. Squer has to say
certain subjects for there is nothing upon which he
much delights to animadyer the brazen fraud and
ridiculous pretensons Of English Intervention in Gen.
AZ int, arnin the
cay of the proposed nteroceanic canal must possess
greater interest in country, shall lay Mr..
Squiers statements this subject before readers.
The project of thus uniting the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans is not new The question began to be moot
ed in Europe it found that the American
continent contained passage strait afording
shorter and expeditions the Indies 1t is
known by all that the discovery of short and easy pas
sage to the land of spices and " far Cathay the
moving which prompted and guided the voyages
sea and expeditions land of Columbus Americas,
Magellan, and Cortes The trade of the East ,and
geographical explorations merely ascertain the
dty of the earth the existence of continents
the prime motive which enlisted the cooperation because
excited the ambition and cupdy Of European monarch
Hence after the discovery of the New World Charles "
of Spain ceased in all his orders naval captains
and military adventurers enjoin upon them vigilance
and activity their search for e. del Esteco the
secret OF the opening shorter commu-
ncaton with the East would Cortes remarks one of
his dispatches render the King of Spain many
Kingdoms that he might consider hmsefo of the world
Such were the high antcpations that INDUCED. 1t
found however that the search for this secret
rutess, and from that moment the project Of open
ing artificial communication from to another
occupied the minds Of rival soveregus in Europe be-
topic Of remark among the writer's of that period
Thus Gomara, old Spanish chronicler who held the
anfal nr1a; "a 49,
quest Of Mexico found writing early as 1851 to this
effect The passage would have be opened across the
main land from the other by whichever might
appear most profitable of these four lines either by the
river Lagarto which, rising in Chagres the distance
of four leagues from Panama flows to the seacoast Of
Nombre de Dos by the channel through which the
Lake Of Nicaragua emptie into the sea- H. the Allan
and the lake itself distant only three leagues
from the H. the Pacific by either Of these two
rivers the passage is already traced and half made Two
other lines Of communication then alluded to- Her
hisoriographer the King Of SPAIN writing OF the
events of 1921 also quoted by Mr. Squer refers to
these and other projected of
nicaton Thus il viii be that Central America is
the proposed theatre Of undertaking. when con-
dered as the territory through which the Titanic enter
prise Of joining two oceans is to be consummated
Mr. Squers statements respecting the geography and
topography Of the country exceedingly interesting for
as ne remarks the great problem connected with the sub
ec of the proposed canal and which has universally been
esteemed vital to the question Of its feasibility this
the great chain Of the Corderqs iacrpted an am point
upon The great Central Emus? This question he answers
armatvey by asserting that between the great Basin of
Nicaragua, containing Lakes Managua and Nicaragua,
and which drained by the river San Juan flowing into
the Caribbean the Cordilleras rhoUy interrupted
while the productions and climate Of the country are pro-
nounced equally favorable to the undertaking. Among
the staples of Nicaragua enumerated sugar cotton
cohee cacao indigo, tobacco maize wheat rice while
nearly all the edbes and fruits abound in tropical uxur
ance- pantains, bananas, beans chile tomatoes bread
fru arrowroot, CORA, citrons oranges lines lemons
plneapples, mamays anonas, guavas cocoa nuts and
hundred other varieties Of plants and fruits"
Mr. Squier enumeraes the five principal points which
have been indicated probably feasible for the great en-
terprise Of inter-oceanic communication
1st The Isthmus Of Tehuanepec between the sources
Of the Rio Chmalapa, Chcapa which falls into the
Pacific ocean, and the river Coatzacaco Huasacuaco
falling into the Atlantic This offers the speedest transit
between the eastern ports Of country the western
coasts Of the continent rendered important from the
mineral wealth Of California
I'd. The Isthmus Of Nicaragua, via the Rio San Juan
and Lake Nicaragua to the Gulf Of Papagyo port Of
Renlejo or the Gulf Of Fonseca.
Sd. The Isthmus Of Panama.
9TH. The Isthmus of Darien, OF Cupica
9TH The Isthmus between the Rio Atrato falling into
the Atlantic and the Rio Choco which cmptes into the