Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-16
IN NICARAGUA.
A JAUNT INTO THE INTERIOR OF
THIS ISTHMUS STATE.
Description of Its Wonderful Inland
Sea, and a General View
of the Country.


Since the attention of the world is Just
now directed toward this country-not
only on account of the projected route be-
tween the oceans, but because that great
American enterprise has stirred up other
nations to send thither agents and ennis
saries, with view to establishing closer
commercial relations between the Nicar-
aguan Government and their own-let
us observe carefully some of its distin-
gushing characteristics.
First, let us look upon the map. 1t is to
be hoped that every reader-unless he be
better posted on geographical points in
general than the writer-has some good
map at hand. Those of us whose school
days are not of yesterday have lost, in the
hurry and worry and hustle of life, MANY
OF those bits of learning that the peda-
gogues 50 laboriously drilled into us. The
human head cannot carry everything and
when taxed with sterner realities. memory
lets slip many things of minor Importance.
Besides in these days of easy aids to all
sorts of information, it is no longer neces-
sary 10 make walking encyclopedia of
ones self, burdened with an Atlas load of
facts and figures-for compilations of many
Kinds have been made, expressly to save
us that trouble.
Referring, therefore, to the indispensa-
bic map, we find the Republic of Nicaragua
midway between Panama and the southern
end of Mexico, with Costa Rica immedi-
ately south Of it, the States of San Saliva
dor and Honduras on the north, the Carib-
bean sea on the east and the Pacific ocean
on the west. With an eastern coast line of $50
miles, its only Caribbean port is San Juan
del Norte otherwise called Graytown)
formed by the northern branch of the
delta of the San Juan river, and even this
is SO choked with sand as to be now nearly
useless.
lis Pacific coast, extending from Conse-
guina Point to Salinas bay-a distance of
nearly 200 miles-is mostly bold and
rocky. 1t has several commodious har-
bors, however, Realijo being the best of
them, the others, Brto, San Juan del Sur
and Conchagua bay.
That long contested, but not v:ry well
defined strip of country, known as Mos
quito Territory, cuts off large portion of
Nlcaragua's eastern shore line, precisely as
British Honduras robs Guatamela of hers.
This Insignificant territory (about forty
miles wide and supposed to include an area
of "a 900 square miles, was coded to Mic
aragua in 1860, but the disputes which
have been rife for MANY generations con-
corning it are still unsettled and likely to
remain so for generations to come
E,Yel,1cIva IF tb;c apo,a,t bo,,o sc 49,,
tention, Nicaragua's area is estimated at
about $4,000 square miles. Along its west
ern coast runs ridge of hills, from ten 10
twenty miles distant from the ocean, at
no point rising higher than 5000 feet,
until they approach the confines of Costa
Rica, where they suddenly shoot up to H.
600 feet. The eastern portion of Nicara-
qua is traversed by part of this great
range of the Cordillera, running nearly
parallel to it and sending off several spurs
toward the Caribbean sea while along
the borders of Honduras and San Salvador
other lofty nights trend off in various di-
reetions. There are also several isolated
volcanoes in the State, each standing alone
near the sea, or but slightly connected
with the main ridge, none of them attain
ing hight of more than 5000 feet.
Between the eastern and western ranges
is a vast interior basin, in which lie the
great lakes of Nicaragua and Managua.
All this central portion of the Republic is
known to the natives as Los Llanos de
Nicaragua-the word Hano meaning plain:
and between the wonderful inland sea.
from which the country derives its name.
to the western hills, it is level as Kansas
prairie, and more fertile than New Eng
lander can easily imagine
AS Tor rivers, Nicaragua is exceptionally
well supplied for tropical region, though
none OF the streams, except the San Juan.
are OF much nayigable importance. Be-
sides that much-talked-of river st. John.
which connects Lake Nicaragua with the
Caribbean sea, and was known to the abo-
riginal owners as the Usaguadero-there is
the Coco, or Segovia, forming part of the
boundary line between Honduras: the Es-
condida or Bleufelds, and the Lama or
Sequia, all flowing eastward; the Malaco-
loya and the Mayales flowing into Lake
Nicaragua from the north, and the Frio
("coid'l river emptying into it from the
south, besides several small streams of
minor Importance running into the Pacific
Lake Managua-or Saint Leon as it is
frequently called-we have already de-
scribed in the previous letter. together
with Nicaraguas capital city, which stands
upon its banks and bears its name. Lake
Nicaragua (whose native name was Coci-
balca) is one of the most beautiful as well
as remarkable sheets of fresh water in the
known world. One hundred miles long.
by from thirty to fifty miles wide, its ele-
walton above the Pacifc-fron which it is
separated only by low range of hills.
which at one point dwindle down to a
hight OF forty ght feet above the lake it.
self-is about 100 feet. Its banks are
beautifully wooded with some of the nobiest
trees of the far-famed Nicaragua forests
and under them to Nicaragua CITY winds
the Canine Real, or Kings highway, built
by the conquering Spaniards-in some
places running so close to the shore
that passing travellers are sprinkled
with spray. For this inland sea has
tides, like those Of the nearby ocean, and
especially when north winds sweep its sur
face, long, rolling pillows of surf break
upon the shore with solemn majesty.
Wherever one stands on the banks no
land is visible upon the farther side, and
the prominent feature of the landscape is
that great volcano Omotpeyne, smooth,
unbroken cone 6,000 feet high, reminding
one Of Mount Etna, since. like the pride Of
Sicily, it rises from the waters edge. The
islands of the lake are many, lying mostly in
groups, the largest OF them being Isola and
Ladiera, each crowned with cloud piercing
mountains.
Starting from San Juan harbor, where
that mighty river empties itself into the
Pacific, We made journey across the
country to Nicaragua City, which stands
on the shore Of the lake whose name il
bears. How many times before that tedi-
Gus iaunt was finished did we find reason
to regret that fool-hardy spirit of adven-
ture which had led us into many similar
scrapes, and doubtless would lead us
into many more. Though tropic wilder
ness is delightful to read about and charm.
ing to look upon-at DISTINGUISHING
through it is quite another matter. Ma
lures luxuriaut bounties, SO lavishly
showered upon this part of the world, but
present fresh obstacles in unbroken paths,
10 which the track of the children OF
Israel to the Red Sea must have been
well-payed roadway in comparison.
Next TO Realijo, the harbor OF San Juan