The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-20
INTERESTING LETTERS.
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Our Nicaragua Correspondence.

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Our Nicaragua Correspondence.
BAN JUAN DE NICARAGUA, Oct. /, 1853.
lssvrats Sketch Of the Coast from Aspin,caH to San
JSa" de Nlsaragua-Voyage from Aspin,caH-
Toyage Of a Coaster-Pleasures of the Sea and
Scenery ON Shore-An English He,t--Gold
Mines-7rip to Boca del Toro-Appsaramce Of
The Toton-Hs Trade-Ior to San Jssan-Peras
efthe Deep-Arriuai at San JMan-Embark for
Home.
The idea Of getting of in any Of the steamers was
ut Of the question-we knew they would be TOO
esely watched for that. Still, 1t was absolutely
eeessary to leave Aspinwall, or be utterly over
helned BY the nature of the pecuniary claims
Kainst M. Our only chance was to get, by any
eans, and at any risk, to Greytown, and take
Gamer from thence. And now viii give you q
fetch Of what we SAW Of this part of the Atlantic
,ssessions Of New Granada. We had embarked
ne night on board . small fiat bottomed sloop,
ping on coasting voyage, the captain Of which, in
pAsdeIation Of an exorbitant price, had agreed to
ut about eighty miles on our way, at small vii
.ge called Escribanos. That eighty miles consumed
ae hundred hours, or upwards Of four days and
igAts, to complete it. Dfsnched with rain in the
light, and exposed to the tropical sun in the day,
ithout chance Of cover, and with very poor provi-
ons on board, you may imagine how comfortable
. felt. The excellent chart on board told US 'these
arts subject to light battling winds and currents
current three to five knots per hour to the SOUTH"
mple opportunity was given us to prove the entire
Drrectness Of these observations; we had to drop
nshor to prevent being carried back, on IN average
in hcur a aofpp ~ -;
ven to affect our good humored captain, who told
by way Of consolation, that the very passage we
ere now making, occasionally, nay, usually, oceu
led from ten to fifteen days.
Our course was within two miles of the shore
urmg the whole time. The scenery is by no means
beautiful as on the Pacific side the only thing
|at struck me was the enormous quantity Of cocoa
ut trees along the beach, almost the whole line from
Avy Bay to San Juan is covered with them. The
de and wind have been the agents in prOpag ating
valuable . property, which, Of course, has no
wners--every one being allowed to gather without
3 or hindrance.
At length our journey terminated, and we were
AddIed ashore III an exceedingly dangerous canoe,
the asaeMblage Of mere huts called Escribanos-
ere was agreeably surprised at meeting on land
pnerable white beard and mustache, Of the name Of
10y, who gave us kind welcome on learning we were
buntry men, providing as with substantial break
st rendered highly acceptable after our four days
ovation. Mr.. Day introduced himself az manager
the "Veraguas Gold and Silver Mining Company"
hose mine, or vein, is situated at about fourteen
lies distance up the river Belen. The company
las formed in London at the beginning of this pre-
INT year, with capital Of fl500 sterling-a YES
\ containing machinery, provisions, DC, was des.
ktchea in April along with the necessary staff (all
Dry able mel }, and q number Of Cornish and other
b0rers, the latter Of whom have either died or re-
|rned home invaded. greatly retarding the compa-
Us operations. The climate of course is not suited
Europeans, more especially If exposed to the rain
Id sun, and-bad brandy.
Gold. it ia well known, exists over all parts of the
klmus, and more especially in the province of We
|guas, where the natives can always obtain from
Tree to four dollars per day when they feel like"
men o. oad ssa
d will pay il only three ounces to the ton are OBJ
iled-this struck meas being very small; but Is the
|achinery will crush fifty tons per day, great hopes
|e entertained of highly profitable resyt-all the
Ps TO be overcome in the way Of climate, want Of
DIVISIONS, want Of labor, &C., &C., are enormous,
ID sufficient to frighten any but body OF CAPT
The vein, the property Of the company, was work.
eerted, then purchased for forty dollars by Alex
(der, q French negro; by him sold for $4,000 to
ensral Norris, An American, who succeeded in dis
eing OF it to the present proprieto at some enor-
bus advance.
I'VE (Which means two Of us,) remained in Escriba-
y for four days, and then determined to proceed
B0ca del Toro, at eighty miles distance.
secuted the idea Of the sloop altogether, and sue
|edea for $50 in engaging canoe for the purpose
tr eMbarkati0n was the most crank and ticklsh af-
ever saw, and it required considerable protesta
bn on the part of our black captain to convince us
its safety. "Oh," said he, they upset Of course;
! there Is no danger..we jump out and right them
lain ~ 1t was thirty five feet long by three and-a
II broad had two enormous lateen sails and long
!; the slightest movement of any Of US threatened
capsze it, and there we were cramped up, seated
the water at the bottom of the boat engaged in an
peditop which was to last at least foftyeght hours
lay down was impossible, and we almost regret
b the exchange, was it not that the canoe-kept
Instantly moving-the paddles were out the mo-
bnt the wind lulled. Our black crew, four in num-
b, spoke Creole-French, mixed with bad Spanish
q English, grating most disagreeably on the ear.
rtunately We arrived without mishap-though we
% two or three narrow escapes, and were quite
|rv0us-at Boca del Toro, after another four days
ID nights exposure Part of the time, however, was
Used on the beach, where we landed for water and
The lagoon, or harbor Of Boca del Toro is really
hgnifcent, extending inland in one place upwards
seventy miles, with deep water, clear as crystal
be whole was surveyed about sixty years ago by the
hglish government, and forms portion of the ter
'0ry Of New Gran ada-at least il ought to form .
e. l was, therefore, surprised to find that the
beet is one OF dispute between New Granada and
sta Rica. The town of Boca del Toro, consisting Of
put fifty houses was first settled by the Creoles about
enty-aye years ago. New Granada afterwards
ht soldiers and authorities, the whole OF which
We been withdrawn, with the exception of an
calde and Jefe Politco leaving the place entirely
the hands Of the Creoles speaking English.
|anlards there are very few. These Creoles, scat
led over the various islands in the lagoon are lead
an easy and pleasant life; very little exerton is
buried for the actual necessities of life Turtle any
can catch without trouble, and is eaten instead Of
Of which there is none. Fish of excellent quality,
Pugh they do not actually cook themselves and cry
Tome, eat me-" as has been related, are 20 album
nt that they only wait to be caught. Bananas
d plantains are a substitute for bread, and fruit
vegetables abound. But this is not enough to
htent the Creoles-they must have comforts as
~. For this purpose they pursue the turtle
lose shell is go valuable for combs, &C., which
procured without any great difficulty. Tortoise
, each animal yielding from two to We pounds, is
nth from SO to Is currency per pound-the whole
t is exported to the United States. The last price
London was 25s. per pound.