Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-06-12
CENTRAL AMERICA.

As this country is now attracting attention,
in view both of Walkers movements, and the
differences between this Government and that
of Great Britain, We have thought that the
following information respecting it, which is
extracted from Squier's work, might be in
teresting:
"Central America, in respect of geographic
cal position, almost realizes the ancient idea
of the centre of the world. Not only does
it connect the two grand divisions of the A
merican continent, the Northern and the
Southern Hemispheres, but its ports open to
Europe and Africa on the East, and to Poly
nesia, Asia and Australia on the West"
"Nor are the typographical characteristics
of Central America less remarkable than its
geographical features. In its physical aspect
and confguration of surface, it has been very
Justly observed that it is an epitome of oil
other countries and climates of the globe
Hi oh mountain ranges, isolated volcanic
peaks, elevated tablc-lands, deep valleys,
broad and fertile plains, aud extensive allu-
vions, we here found grouped together, re-
lieved by large and beautiful lakes and ma
jestic rivers; the whole tceming with animal
and vegetable life, and possessing every va
ricty of climate, from torrid heats to the cool
and bracing temperature of eternal spring"
X * X * x
"The area of Central America may be cal
culated, in round numbers, at l55, 1000 square
miles-vcry nearly equal to that of the New
England and the Middle States combined.
The population may be estimated at not far
from 100000, of which Guatemala has
0,000; San Salvador 394, 900; Honduras
$50, 900; Nicaragua 100000; and Costa
Rica 125 ,000."
cat the period of the Central America
discovery; 1t was found in'tbc occupation of
two families of men, presenting in respect to
each other the strongest points of contrast.
Upon the high plateaus of the interior of the
country, and upon the Pacific declivity Of
the continent, where the rains are compara-
lively light, the country open, and the eli
mate relatively cool and salubrious, were
found great and populous nations, far advan-
ced in civilization, and maintaining a sys-
tematized religious and civil organization.
"upon the Atlantic declivity, on the 9th
er hand, among dense forests nourished by
constant rains into rank vigor, on low coasts,
where marshes and lagoons, sweltering under
fierce sun, generated deadly miasmatic
damps, we're found savage tribes of men,
without fixed abodes, living upon the natu'
raj fruits of the earth, and the precarious
supplies of fishing and the chase, without
religion, and with scarcely semblance oi
social or political establishment"
"The natural relations Of Central America
as indicated by the physical fac'J already
pointed out, are clearly with the Pacific and
the States which now exist or may spring in
to existence upon that coast To California
and the greater part Of Mexico, as also tc
some of the States of South America, it mus
come, sooner or later, to sustain position
corresponding with that which the West In
dies have held towards the United States
and Europe, with the important addition o.
being an established route of travel, ane
perhaps ultimately of commerce, between tht