The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-11-04
CORRESPONDENCE.
LA PAz, MEXICO, Sept. 1st, 1870.

EDITOR UNION AND JOURNAL: . .aI
DEAR SIR:-Since writing you last. my
life has been so varied and full of incidents
that scarcely know where to begin, In
order to give you fair idea of the sights
have seen. I have been roasted by n
tropical sun, and have been chilled by the
bleak wind of tho Antarctic ocean; but
rs the weather ut home is getting cooler,
l think will give you rs brief sketch
as possible Of q trip that party of us
made from Realejo to Leon. the capitol Of
the state of Nicaragua. We arrived In
Realejo on the 2lst of April on board the
steamer "Prince Albert" of the Panama
and Guatemala line. This Is the sea port
of Nicaragua. and consists of an hundred
or so thatched huts and three very shaky,
old frame houses, inhabited by tho U. s.
Consul tho intendente or captain Of the
port, and an aged Gllibuster, n refugee
from the vigilance committee Of California
In its early day. and who has amassed
quite fortune here, but cannot 60 back
to his friends and relatives again because
the committee aforesaid. took the precau-
ton to cut of his ears so that thcy could
identify him again If necessary. The in
habitants, with these three exceptions, are
of the lowest caste of Peones or native
Indians, and their principal occupation.
like that of Mark Twain's dog, els to set
round and look onery." The country
about here is quite low and narshy; fresh
water lagoons occur frequently, In which
alligators and all manner of "sarpints"
sport to their hearts content. The land
along the coast here for miles Is dcnsely
covered with growth Of somc tropical
shrub, the name of which could not
learn. In regard to the climate the Their
mometer is rarely ever below so nor
above ll5"; but this weather hangs on so
persistently that i'm short time one gets
completely enervatcd and unfit for any ex-
ertiOn. either physical or mental. The
city of Leon is thirty miles distant: and
having business with the American min
istcr there, | organized u party of nine to
make the trip with me on the morn nS
succeeding our arrival in port.
! The Journey is not long one-about
thirty miles-but portion of 1t has to be
made in boats and the balance by horse
back, mule back, dilligcnce(D or what.
ever you can hire or beg. We equipped
ourselves the night previous and in the
morning about daylight we were under
way. | had procured from one OF tho
passengers an immense hat, OF the genus
'.plug," that came completely down over
my head and was supported solely by my
ears; it was formerly white, had very
narrow brim and weed that was long
rs n funeral procession. This, with u
black alpaca coat, top boots and the con-
yentional blue cotton umbrella, completed
INV travelling costume. One Of the ships
boats took us rs far rs Barkita (nine miles)
where we were to "change cars" for Leon.
The doctor. purser and myself concluded
not to ride mule back, for we might get
ahead of the party and get lost, so we
chartered u huge platform car drawn by
four bullocks and navigatcd by brawny
Peon. This vehicle had for wheels, Sec
tions of trees, about three feet In diameter,
sawn about foot thick, and apparently
no attempt had been made to improve
upon the shape given them by nature,
We perched ourselves on three sugar
casks, myself In the middle, there l un-
furled my azure canopy and the doctor
ina voice that would have shaken Olym...
pus, babe our charioteer to "move on"
The road wound through groves of oitron,
mangrove and lemon trees, and while the
dew was on, the fragrance Of their flowers
and foliage was almost oppressive, yet the
shade from their broad branches and heavy
leaves was delightfully."- cool and refresh
ing. Birds of tho gayest plumage were
fitting about liko meteors, while monkeys
were swinging from branch to branch
keeping up most incessant chatter.
Doubtless an Hindust.nee would have
mistaken our eQuipage for his own dread.
ed car of Juggernaut and would have mt
once cast himself beneath our sacriticial
wheels; but in tho simple mind of our
charioteer the car was nought without the
Jug. The greatest possible amount OF
spiritual consolation that could DO instilled
into that man, is to me. to day, n mathe.
,nntical uncertainty. But nothing. could
cheer him; he was second Job Trotter.
! / tried to win his affections by calling him
4 Phnbus. but tho doctor, more prosaic,
surnanred him Calomel and. strange to
saw. he liked 1t. AT short intervals along
tho route were erected little mounds OF
stones in order TO propitiate the saints or
something of the kind. and rs often rs
..Calomels would arrive ut one no would
dofr his. sombrero and cross himself rev.
erentIy, at the same time Invoking on our
heads blessings which were probably shed
by the blue cotton umbrella. a '''.'
| For nearly twenty miles our route lay
through these cool groves and rs there
WAS no lack OF incident or novelty at
avery moment. wc thoroughly enjoyed It.
1 Thcn we came 70 tho great plain OF Leon
where thore Is neither tree nor shrub ior
fifty miles. and here our discomforture