The New York herald., 1866-02-27

cotton while scarcely tree was to be seen AT that
une tine rainy season did not last three months
while a. the present moment, all cultivation having
ceased ana dense vegetation taken the place of cotton
piantstons ~ ~ rare TO lind single month pass
without rain, and the annual rainfall has increased
huhorcd per cent. The seasons, have said before
are wen marked In the INTERIOR and divided into two
the wet and dry summer and winter The rains COM
mence 10 May and last until November while the rest OF
sne Twelve msnths often wihou. even shower
Inc dry season Is much cooler than the wet as the re-
reshng trade winds temper the heat during this period
The following observations will give an idea OF the at
mosphorcai laws by which the climate is governed;-
mean nghest temperature. 90
Mean lowest temperature II
Average annual temperature. ...-...-......;.:- 'S
Rain fell on one hundred ana thirty nine days in 1850
During the ealms OF the summer season the climate is
suy and enervating, although In a much less degree
than experienced IN the West Indies at the time
cooler temperature may always be enjoyed by resort
is low intermittent fever and that II occasionally
proves fatal due to the carelessness of the
than to peculiar vruence in the disease itself That
the general beathiness Of the country is above the
tropical average proved by the age the natives ATTAIN
very advanced period OF lfe for instance there
living in the town Of Matagapha during my late journey
to Ncaagua no less than seventeen all above ninety
years of age and still active. Indeed, in almost every
city and town people point out with pride their very old
men, custom dating from long before the conquest AS
regards the sea coast Mosquito may mention that the
Moravian missionaries all Europeans established there
fifteen years. have not lost man; and lar
.rain not one has been invaded Again. respecting
the Inhabitants Of Geytown, the rule holds good;
for during six years experience Of the place. Ihave
missed single fam ar face out Of the small popu-
ation OF the town Many place has been called sicky
simply from the rapid deaths the dsorderly and dssi-
pated members Of its resident society and from
lent disease would soon mako itself felt for the country
Is very thiniy inhabted From careful calculations,
based upon very extended knowledge of the republic,
! should estimate that the population does not exceed
10000, or i've to the square mile.
SCENERY.
The scenery OF Nicaragua is most beautiful and taking
II all in all perhaps unrvacd in the world. The
Atlantic coast limo Is for the part low and frnged
with primeval forests; magnificent rivers rs ng In tho
far interior empty themselves into the Caribbean sea;
their mouths nterected by extensive lsgoons forming
int eror ,navi gai on unriralled any part OF
world have visited Inland, tow ring mountains
and volcanoes extensive sayanas level plains and beau
tifu lakes dotted with the most romantic islands meet
the view every side.
PRODUCTIONS
This account of the aspect of the country would
not be complete without brief summary OF its
manifold productions, viz, precious metals, cochi-
neal indigo, sarsaIarila, vanilla, india rubber,
Coffee, tobacco, hides, mahogany, cedar, live
oak, several dyewoods, pitch pine containing
large quantities Of tar, snum vita, great variety
thus obcrve that its productions are more varied and
useful thap 10 any other part OF the globe of like extent
and, moreover some OF them cannot bc surpassed in
qualify; indigo, Tor example, has long been accounted
the best OF any; cocoa and still is uneSualcd at the
time OF tho Spanards for IN kings use;
the coffee Is excellent the Costa Rca cotton,
when formerly exported superior To OF the New
Orleans vareiles Indeed the Atlantic side of Nicaragua
commonly called the Mosquito coast, must be ranked
first OF all The cotton growing countries, for no. only
the soil and climate adapted TO the growth OF the plant,
but the facilities OF cheap water carriage to the port Of
shipment must disan all competition, while, inasmuch
as the Mosquito coast is nearer England than New Or
leans, and the navigation TO 1t is ncomparably less haz
ardous consequently freight and insurance must rule
less. and thus take 1t after ALL element of pri-
mary importance IN cotton supply.
NICARAGUA kEARfH ENGLAND
Ir ladies and gentlemen will do me the favor TO look
at the small maps in their hands will cndeavor to
plain how u Is that the Mosquito coast is nearer to Eng
land than New Orleans which on the map looks 10 be
much The fact is sailing ship cannot make
straight course 10 IT, owing 10 the Gull Stream, but is
compelled 10 take roundabout route entering the West
Indies 10 the eastward and running down with
far wind and past the Mosquito coast
After passing Mosquito Is all the hazard Of the
gerous Gulf OF Mexico TO encounter besides being In the
Ticane track, all Of VIII ch Is OF course avoided IL
Mosquito port happens to be the ships destination
HISTORY
Tho early history OF the Americans Is familiar to
most people that shall not take up your time by any
reference 10 beyond wh necessary to illustrate
special subject The discovery and conquest OF Nicaragua
followed naturally upon the bod exploit OF Vasco Nunez
Balboa Early In the year 1922 Gis Gonzalez Aria
sailed along It's Pacific coast and two years later we ind
the country and subdued by Francisco Herman
dez de Cordova who founded the cities OF Loon and
Granada Vacuai dc Andagoyer one Of the conquerors
gives his impressions Of Nicaragua at that early date
and particulars it Is the this day Tho
Tangues, or markets, for instance are still held in the
Raz open square, and the small change Is still cacao
beans, the most nuctuating currency in the world
| have known forty beans equal TO one real.
| about sixpence, and l have seen six only gwen
| in exchange FOR the coin. The follow
| ing is Pascuals acceunI:--"Ths land Is very
populous and fertile, yielding supplies OF maize, and
many fowls of tho country and certain small dogs VIII ch
they also eat and many deer and fish 1t IL very salu
| briOus land. The Indians very civilized In their
way OF life like those of Mexico for they people
who had from that country, and they mad nearly
the same language herrera says that i've languages
were spoken in Noaragua-thc Charbiz, the Chooteoan
tbeng the most ancicnt the Chouta, the 0ronan and
Mexican. These people about well dressed in the
Ind fashion, the wit thor mantcs like those
OF Coriba and another description of covering, which,
descending from the head, covered tho bosom and half
| the arms. The men covered ther loins with very
long cloths made OF cotton, which they passed
/ In many folds from the hips TO the thighs.
In the villages they wore their mantlcs Ike
cioaks under the arms They had great quantity Of
CLOTH and they hold their markets In the public
squares, where they traded Tho land poor In
| gold, aud they traded with cacao, in New spain.
They had many beautiful wOmcun The striking atera
ton In tue Ncaragusn Indian has been the change his
4 religion although that never complete, for
tbl day ancient supcrstitons are mixed up with the
rites OF the Catholic church, and recognized by the
| pnest The city OF Leon, which Is mentioned by las
cual, exists longer the present city being nearly
its former grandeur IL WIS abandoned N one day, from
a snpersttous panic by the entire population, in
consequence of the murder In the Episcopal palace,
| OF the Bishop OF Nicaragua by the brothers Con
| teras who, towards ti.e end OF the Sixteenth
for themselves independent commonae eah In Central
America TIE history OF Nicaragua consists OF con.
tinuous narrative OF attempts To hhbusteritho word
nbuster IA French and Spanish corruption OF the Eng
lsh word frceDooter appeation, which, in former
days, from It's being frequently assumed by certain
class OF men disliked the harsher of pirate
became familiar 10 the inhabitants Of tho West Indies
aud Central America but as the term nlibuser IA
used II exprscs the action OF the Amer can people or
portion of the people, the acquisition OF territory
which not bcung ~ them quite unrestraincd by
the responsibilities OF the American govcrnmentl-the
country and tie natives have good TO hate the
very sound OF this ill-otnened word FIRST the
conqueros themselves then the brothers ConieIas then
prince OF buccaneers Morsan and other brethren OF
the Main and lastly General Walker who paid the PEN
atty OF his nhbusering procilyes with his life In Sep
/ tember lSGO In 1871 the Central American provinces
OF which Ncaragua one, declared their independence
and from thai no have undergone various yicissudes
and revolutions Since 1s52, however, each state has
| declared Itself sovereign and independent
GOVERNMENT.
Nicaragua ruled under republican form OF
meut The President General Martinez, has nearly.
completed his second four years OF oice, aud win,
probably be elected for the third time. The Senate and
Chamber Of Deputies meet year. and continue In
about two months generally February and March
The constitution Is modelled upon that of the United
States The laws are liberal and well ADMINISTERED and
the state Is now In quiet and prosperous condition