The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-10

scription, Nicaragua Indipe,d,snie. A
quarter OF q mile below the town on the
crest Of an overtOwering hill stands Fort
Castillo. This fort is said to have been built
by the c0Dquestadors OF the seventeenth cen
fury, to maintain their conques,s in this
part Of the new world. II IL OF solid ma
sonry, and though long since dismantled is
10 tolerable state Of preservation, and
could with little labor and expense be made
quite formidable. The ascent 10 il il rough,
and after reaching which we were quite will.
ing to take q little breathing spell, before
we began research OF its subterranean
passages, cells and dungeons.
As We wandered through these gloomy
relics OF the broken power Of Spain and
thought OF the tyranny TO which she sub
jected the unfortunate people to whom she
gave her civilization, her laws and her re-
ligion, even to the rackiDg consolation of the
holy inquistion, for the preservation Of the
soul, while they tortured with hell-devised
Instruments the writing bedy--whilst hyp-
pocritically she assumed the good of an an
gel, to perform deeds for which the incar.
nate iiends would blush to own, shudder
crept over Us. A shudder for her terrible
crimes-crimes for which she has wept and
must weep tears OF blood. And then az we
would start from its secret haunt, amidst the
dust and dirt Of ages some solitary bat or
owl, we trembled upon the very verge Of
superstition, as it flew away with its flutter.
ing wbirr, or gave a single dismal boot &C
tive imagination gave it q sepulehral tone,
~ Of voice Of another world, and Of some
unfortunate being who had fallen victim
to the avsrice aud cruelty OF the rapaeious
Of older days and whose unappeased names
still fitted through space, and fingered
amidst the scenes OF its latest and drest
sufierings.
In corner Of one Of the many cells, lay
broken stock aud yoke, which had been
used for combining prisoners, and doubtless
it had performed its cruel Office scores OF
times; but like the power OF its old owners
it was now broken and harmless. Who
could tell upon whom il last effected is mer.
CHESS duties! Whether upon the diseased
and palsied limbs Of the old and infrm, yet
noble hearted patriot, who with an un.
daunted heart preferred death Of glory for
HIS Couuttyp tuou I'LL liic
himself. Or whether it circled the delicate
form whose only fault was beauty, and whose
only crime was virtue, and who would have
rather shared the grave OF Virginia than the
couch OF Aspasia. For these ruthless
Spsniarls were icentious, and neither age,
patriotism, youth, beauty nor virtue was q
safeguard against their brutal passions and
innate thirst for bestial orgies. 1t was
growing late when we reganed the parapet.
The rich curtain Of o tropical evening began
10 descend, and as the sun sought his rosy
couch in the bosom OF the cloud kissing hills
that enviroued Castillo, thin vail of clouds
dropped around rs il TO hide bis bushes
from the stare OF the world. The sky was
lovely, with its various brilliant hues striving
for mastcry--now the crimson, and then pur-
pie seemed to predomiuate, until cloud
woald maesticalIy sweep over the combat
ants, obscuring all beneath its Opaque vol
ume, but from which they would soon
emerge with renewed splendor. We linger.
Cd over the scene until the falling dews coun
selled US to our hotel, and which We soon
after reached. Leaving Castillo that night
at ten o'clock, we arrived at San Carlos the
following evening. This town is the same
in appearance As Castillo, without the hotels,
and is situated at the head of the San Juan
river, that rises 10 Lake Nicaragua, mag
Dfcent sheet Of water. Here is also al old
fortress, built mostly of mahogany, and was
also garriscned by th'efllibusters. Weiound
here national steamer ia Virgin" ear.
ryiug the Blue White Blue flag OF Mic
aragua, and mounting four guns-two nine
and two six Founders, waiting to embark
detachment Of troops for Grenada. We
were rendered by Capt. Fasioux. a passage
to Granada. and very gratefully accepted
it, and which we reached the next morning.
The water being shallow in the harbor, We
anchored out, a half mile from shore, TO
which we were transported in bupgo, with
no greater Inconvenience than thorough
ducki1g.
GRO ~ CONTINUITY