Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-12
ON THE ISTHMUS.
BRIEF SOJOURN IN THE REPUB-
Lie OF NICARAGUA.
A Day Spent in Its Capital-Vol.
canic Lakes and a Wonderful
Body of Water.

darby distinguished above all other coun-
tries of the world for war and bloodshed.
Military pronunciamentoes, popular re-
volts and civil conflicts have so thoroughly
wasted the resources of this once rich
country, that at last utter exhaustion has
brought comparative peace. The present
Capital of the republic, on the shore of the
wonderful Lago (lake) de Managua, whose
name 1t bears, has experienced as many
ups and downs as might be expected from
the "seat" of SO chaotic a Government.
Near the northwest shore of the same lake
is Leon, founded in 1928 by Francisco Fer
nandez de Cordova, an aspiring city, which
from time out of mind has been deter
mined to consider itself the Capital. On
the shores of the same body of water is
Granada, another ambitions burg, which
was also determined to possess that honor.
So an endless contention was urged be-
tween the rival cities, Grenada and Leon,
which has at last been settled by locating
the Capital at Managua, about midway be-
tween the two.
In 1876 great landslide destroyed
Managua, but it was soon rebuilt. A rail-
way has long been in process of construc-
ton to connect the Capital with the ocean;
but the everlasting manana of the region
interferes with its completion. In 1882
the Geographic system of eight hundred
miles was completed, and about the same
time it was decided to set aside an annual
grant of $500 for educational purposes.
l will not weary you with a description
of the general features of Managua, which
are precisely like those of other Spanish
American towns so often described in these
letters. Among its one-story adobe abodes
and more picturesque structures of cane
matched with leaves, which make up the
thickly-settled part of the town, are a
number of two-story brick and frame
houses, which, during late years, since for
eigners have focked here, have become
quite the fashion. But they look out of
place in this hot and earthquake haunted
section, while the simpler dwellings of the
natives are not only more pleasing to the
eye and better suited to the climate, but
are much safer when the frequent shocks
occur.
This diminu.ive Washington of Nicara-
qua is said to be more beautifully located
than any other city in Central America.
Back of the town are a number of volcanic
lakes where nature has concentrated an
astonishing variety of eccentricities. The
American Consul was so kind as to devote
a day to showing us these wonders, in
which hospitable duty he was assisted by
several native Managuans.
If that old saw is true about 'early to bed
ar,H aarlx- 10 ric - i,ix, q, 4
Nicaragua ought to be wiser than Solomon,
and more healthy than Methuselah At an
Incredibly early hour every light is extin-
guished in Managua and everybody is COM
fortably ensconced behind the mosquito
bars of his ox-hide stretcher, or hammock,
or springbed-there being number of the
latter, strange to say, in the hotels and
better-class homes of the country; and
long before ''sun-up" everybody is astir
and ready for the little business they may
be disposed to accomplished. And you
may be sure that anything in the line of
work will be little Even his pleasures
are taken by the lazy Nicaraguan leisurely
and in homeopathic doses, as indeed is
everything but sleeping and smoking. In
other portions of Hispano-America every
little town has its Casino and other public
places for amusements or social gatherings.
But there are none in Nicaragua-not even
in It's Capital, which has a population Of
$4,000. If there are entertainments in
private houses, they generally take the form
of early dinner parties; or if dancing is in
order, it is begun in the afternoon and con-
cluded about the hour such exercises be-
gin elsewhere.
Therefore our picnic was quite an event
in the eyes of the Managuans, and though
we started about o'clock A. NJ, half the
town turned out to bid us ddois and wish
scarce in this part of the world, most peo-
pie taking their extremely limited amount
of exercise on donkeyback or by the aid of
Mr.. Shanks' horse. But for the especial
honor of Los Americands, large and cum
bersome landau was provided, which had
formerly belonged to the Bishop of Leon,
but had been recently discarded by that
dignitary for more stylish conveyance In
these Catholic countries, you know, it is
the custom for everybody to fall upon their
knees, wherever they may be, whenever
the Bishops carriage is seen approaching,
and more than once we were startled by
the sight of 'hopping" men and women
Ia Mrs. Jerry Cruncher who were prob
ably not yet aware of the Bishops change
of turnouts.
The route lay for some distance close
along the shore of beautiful Lago de
Managua, then up a road so steep and
rough that for wheels the ascent was both
difficult and dangerous. At an elevation
of perhaps 200 feet halt was made, that
we might view the magnificent panorama
spread cut below. At our feet lay the
quaint city, and several other towns, of
equal size, all apparently close to the
waters edge, were discernbile. The lake
itself looks dark green in hue, by contrast
with the surprising brightness of the en-
clrcling mountains, whose barren cliffs and
crags shine like gold and silver under the
tropic sun, and combining a rich coloring
of cinnibar and other minerals that enter
into their composition, present all the effect
of gorgeous sunset. The twin peaks OF
the range, Momotombe and Momotombita,
rise 5000 feet on the farther side of the
lake, from the waters edge. The first
named volcano constantly emits volume
of smoke or steam, which slowly rises and
mingles with the clouds. Though harm
less now, the great streak of lava marking
dark course down its grim side recalls
the tragedy of a destroyed city at its base
and the fact that beneath It's once burning
mass hundreds of people were buried
The horses were again urged forward
and upward, toward the point where the
distant peak OF Santa Clara towers above
the clouds, till at last the crest of an ex.
tinct crater was reached. Within this
hollow. 100 feet below the surrounding
ridge, which forms circular basin with a
diameter Of about 600 yards as perfect as il
laid out by accurate measurement, lies lake
of unknown depth A little way from the
bank sounding leads have been run down SOC
feet without touching bottom. We are
told that at times the water becomes warm
and that sulphurous fumes arise from its
surface, and again the volume of the lake
win rise five or six feet so suddenly that
the women washing alony the shore bav.