New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-09
CENTRAL AMERICA.
Journey from Leon through Naeva sesovs'
and Honduras.
n ae Editor Of TIE Tribune;


srue nearly three quarters Of circle NOT lar ron
s snex nj the curve stone bridge ofthrteen srches
soca solid structure wide enough fort dozen morse
-, .hvess, erosses the river and forms the comma
.se.,,on with an Indian town opposite the city Ims
ara.c as,es from remote Spanish times and in all the
.syts of Central America which visited lie the only one
existing In good ORDER that Of Leon was never mi he'd
and 1. now complete ruin Thepopulston of the cty is
id 10 he FROM OOOto but this seems 70 me rsth-
or exssgeran even according 70 the ashionthe
whole vicinity OF the city is included According to this
statement and others Of the kind az for Granada
10000 Leon IS COO Matsgapa 5000 etc. etc, Central
America would have az least ten millions oiinhaotant
but actually il has not two millions. think the
inhabitants Of Tcgucgslps may amount perhaps to 1oJ'
G6OOc.
The general appearance Of the town hasa character
Of cleanness, ncatness and prosperity large ana
spacious Plaza IL surrounded by fire houses n4ny Vi
them two stories high rare thing IN tss country ou
which proves that there cannot be many earthquakes
ne cathedral forming one side Of this public square
asrse and imposing building not quite as large as
that OF Leon but its proportions very good and It
forms a fine ornament It wac built after the plan OF
M old priest who paid also the ere ter part Of the cost
sbout one hundred years ago On the north de stands
the old perochis church. built in epicturesqne mix
ture of Spanish Renaissance and Moorish style like the
greater srt of the public buildings in the country
pleasant light IL offered by the many buildings In pro-
sess of construction good sign for the property Of
The town ] was also charmed by not meeting, az in
Leon and Gransds many ruins those sed traces oil
civil war.
The sanctuary of the cathedral is richly decorated
with gilded ornaments Of carved wood in the same
style the building Nurn5ercfs standards, banners
and reques exhibited alec some old Spanish pic
lures and few antiquities Of inferior value In tue
yestry near some statues Of raints saw table an
instrument similar to cal nine tall" and ar could
not exactly make out for what parpose ii was here,
asked the kind old priest who was my guide, ii 1t
served for religious exercises. The old man smiled,
and said for the hungry dogs that once had eaten
VI the box full OF sacred waters. thrice rascsy her
etcsl
Avery kind old gentleman Don Lebenato member
Of the Assembly introduced me to General Cabsna',
the PRECEDENT of Honduras small delicate man, with
an upright honest ace covered with scare, and pair
Of smart blue eyes full of energy and courage and the
noble heart of brave soldier and good patriot At Mo
rozau's retreat from Guatemala Cabanas (st that time
CoIoDeD with detachment Of 100 men had position
In the cathedral and held il until the whole patriot
army had effected their retreat; then he cut his way
sword in hand through Carreras army which was 1909
strong and reached his General with - out OF his 100
mem the rest lay dead OIL the road When in 1872 the
butcher Guar,lola intended upset the Government.
he simple name of Cabaias sufficient to raise an
army and a. quick houghttranquilly was restored
General Csbahas resides in the house that
kelon ged In former times Gen MORGAN; is situated
en- the banks Of the river commanding the bridge and
b az well historical picturesque edihce.
wac much mclested at my work by the curio'ty
Of the people, who often in crowds Of 80 10 lcO
hint
hnderod the free circulation Of the air circumstance
which IL very disagreosble under ahot tropical
Ia the house Of the General, ns AZ Don LebenAtos,
saw mnny 6ne opals which aboundsi in this part
Of Honduras but only few were OF extraordinary
value received, also present Of some very hne
specimens OF gold and silver ere
Ny stsy was most agreeable one. Sonora Raiseh
and her daughters little regiment of si-ters-in law o
Mr. G. we're as kind hosts and agreeable comp ny
as possibly could EXIT, and many an evening, when
friends OF the young people carno TO the house
had nice little "hop" TO the music OF guitar,
played by some one OF the young ladies gentleman
had at FIRE; idesof extending my excursOn a. far rs
Copsn, and General Cabehas who had some time DO.
fore heard that Mr. Sdusr intended another visit to
the country, was willing to provide US with workmen
and pack mules for such exploring expedition,
but as was alone and the rainy would come
IN about fortnight and being several hundred miles
kom Leon abandoned the notion, especially since
with the fret rain the pains north Of the Viejo
would become nearly impossible in conse luenoc OF
the swampy nature Of the ground | had reached
seary i50 porth latitude, and now turned mysell
again toward the south
The old song of hiring mules and packing was taken
up again, but this time the kindness of Donna R4asla
snd her tmiable daughters had provided with
Dent stock OF provisions, including many articles OF
luxury read, cocoa and tea. The farewell not
painful but very joyful indeed, there q whole
platoon OF embraces and rosy lips to passa very hand
custom Of the country.
Then mounted avery good black mule, which, a.
well a. the pack mules was in good case, aud clat.
tered away the Plaza aud the clean streets
the old bridge out from this incest OF all cities in Cen
,rsl America.
Onward went, in q long, long ascent passing the
Dost different regions of vegetation AT hrs left be-
hind me the lofty palms the oaks-st last even the
pines, till reached high table land, covered with
bushes and strange aud unknown trees From the
rocky ground sprans immense aloes and sgsves
times IS to 10 feet high-perhaps even more. Wher-
ever there trees their branches covered with
thin gray moss, which hung down to the ground large
pendants giving the aspect of thoughtful old
man, whose gray beard and hair waved silently in the
soft breeze. Amid tropical nature had felt myself
stranger; in the mountain solitude felt myself dons
and abandoned; but here, among this strange aud
mysterious looking vegetation, had feeling OF which
sapno, gives exact account but which somewhat
similar, meshinks, to the feelings ola maa who all OF
sudden finds himself alone among COLLINS, and listened
with dcsh, and relief 10 the sound of my mules no Dis
ssttering against stone BY and by the last traces of
vegetation disappeared and the frozen ground sounded
clearly under The tramp If the animals. The sun was
sinking to the west ard it abou; half an hour
high, Preached the lac, summit of the Cerro de Ule
Grand scenery always makes me religious, and
se'esng all nature seemed to accord in one prayer
Far away In the Immense distance visible the Pa
~ne, In which the bright beautiful just about
% ank down distinguished only by extremely
sehes'e gray tint, behold the Gulf OF Fonseca with
ne wonderfully nlctures.,,s -. - -, -