New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-06-11
NICARAGUAN CORRESPONDENCE,
SEGoy1A, April II. ISL

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5 V sEGov1A, April II, 1856.
Editors Crescent: Leaving Chontales three days
ago, crossed the high co range ten leagues north
west OF Lbertad and gradually descended to the plain
ofthe upper Escondido as it's called. finally brought
up at this old town, called Matagapa and propose to
give you letter from another gold and silver region
far richer in swashngs though not more beautiful
nor grand in scenery than the hayeleft and from
whence wrote you few hasty lines some two weeks
ago. But little Of the distance between Chontales
and Segovia is destitute Of the presence Of gold and
in fact, have found it almost on the hill
sides in the streams among the roots of grass in the
rotten debris Of granite lodges, on the openplan and
IN the sand. The land, too, Il mean the soil,) is
everywhere rich, capable of the highest cultivation,
and fruitful OF every production On the high plains
above, and even Immediately around Matagalpa,
wheat is grown to considerable extent; and where
everit is cultivated it fourishes in great yigor, al
though the production per does not average much
above the product in Illinois and our rich Western
lands. 1t may seem rather an unnatural brood for
one and the same plantation, Il like that word best
don't you? orhacienda to produce but I have seen
coffee, tobacco, cocoa, corn wheat, sweet potatoes
oats. beans, peas lines, oranges, bananas pantans
and arrow root, all furnishing vigorously the same
farm, and as if indigenous to the soil.
Don't pshaw at that, for it is so, did not believe
it till saw with my own eyes, and now know it to
be true. Pennsylvania, named Gordon, who has
been in this country six yeas, and has one of the
finest haciendas in the world has tried as he saysto
see how many of the productions of this climate
could be grown on section Of good land and has
thus proven that all can be made to flourish in the
same teld, and all with the yigor. 1t only needs
little care andattention to have every comfort which
nature can provide to enable one to dwell here in
perfect paradise. On your uplands every kind of
vegetable and cereal production of the earth leap into
vigorous life to bless the hand that sows the seed
whilst in the streams gold gters in all its purity to
repay the industry of him who gathers it up. The
gold ore Of the quartz, well as that of the wash
ngs, is Of the same character in this region as in
that OF Chontales but both are in greater abundance
and capital and labor are better paid in producing it.
The surface of the country is much more broken
rocky and abrupt here than in Chontales and far more
OF the land must remain at waste; but even upon the
steep hilsdes and along the rugged cliffs the vine can
protaby cultivated and thefIesh strong winds that
ian these high regions must be extremely favorable to
their healthness and freedom from those diseases that
often destroy them in Spain and France. The old
quartz mills that have been so long in operation in
this region, are just now mostly idle on account of
the late disturbances with the Indians that inhabt the
mountains east and north of this but as they have
Withdrawn and are again quiet, the proprietors and
laborers are preparing to return and recommence
operations.
An American party has recently purchased q quartz
mine near this place and are bringing out a regular
crushing mill from the States. I happen to know
that said mill has already reached Granada and is
probably awaiting transportation to this place
The forests that cover the mountains are of the
same character of woods that grow in all Central
Amerlca-cedar, gum, dyewood-indeed, the whole
catalogue of useful, ornamental and precious woods
flourish in this climate.
What q land of waste lies here, and how crimnally
negectul Of the nnumerabe blessings that surround
them are these Idle, thriftless, secivzed people?
No winter ever blasts the productions toll and care
or cls the blood of man or beast and even the heat
OF summer is tempered to most heaIthul degree by
the eyer-refreshing breeze. And can it be that AL
mighty wisdom has fashioned such land as this and
bestowed upon it SO many advantages, only to rust
out and waste forever in idleness? Or rather was it
not given to man for his benefit, his home and dwell
ing! 1t must be so and the time cannot be distant
when another and hetter-yes, say, a bettec-race
will people these hills and valleys, and cover them
with fruitful fields and blooming gardens, and dot
them over with nesting towns and cities Millions of
happy civilized people might dwell here, where only
few thousand halfsavage, ragged idle and ignorant
beings hardly stay
The echoes ofrevolutions and wars still sound among
these mountains, and it seems music to the ears of
race that has so often mingled in and been affected by
them; and yet they have learned nothing from the
many great lessons which their civil dscords and COM
motions should teach but which a stranger can read
on every wall and tower. The dsunionists" of the
States should all, every of them not excepting
Horace Greeley visit Central America if they would
learn the practical effects upon the country which
their mad schemes would entail upon continent if
carried out successfully.
have not yet been able to visit the mines as wish
to and must leave for Granada tomorrow as it is not
yet considered safe for American to travel through
the mining district and my time is limited but have
seen enough here to induce me to revisit Segovia
when peace shall once more smile over the land. But
can conscentiously invite emigrants who are desir-
Gus of seeking for homes in Nicaragua to settle here
and if there unfavorable circumstance against
the country, would speak Of it.
We have found here as in Chontales many pre-
cious stones and when the geologist shall explore
these regions with scientific and practical cye he
will develope rich multitude of productions that can
be found nowhere else on earth.
And here let me stop to say that courier has just
come in from Honduras, and reports that President
Santos Guardola had recalled the few troops that he
had previously ordered down to the frontiers to co
operate with San Salvador against Nicaragua, anG
that he had also ordered all the serye refugees anG
conspirators from Nicaragua away from the lines int
the interior towns there to remain under strict sur
vigilance. This doubtless, is true and if true thu
great northern leaguen against Walker is broken
and within few days past, have heard these native
talk significantly about democratic revolution il
Costa RIGA. Why not 3? These fellows always ge
news months in advance of us white folks. Its curl
GUS how they get their information and their pre-
dictions have always come true about this war; be
gin to think that it may, indeed, be the fact that
revolution is brewing in that State
Tomorrow, l am off for Granada from whence yol
shall hear from me, Vanderbilt to the contrary not
withstanding. I made my supper this evening upol
green corn boiled in the husk and brought on til,
back ola "muchacho' five miles to market. We hat
some fine sugar-cane, also, by way of desert, will
oranges freshly plucked from a tree in front of on
hosts door You can boast of your ice, juleps etc
bnot flnr Ia aft