The morning call., 1890-09-26
GRANADA's TERROR.
Graphic Description of the Old Volcano
of Mnmb acho.

Graphic Description of the Old Volcano
of Mombacho.
IA writer of note, describing Granada and
~fhe surrounding country, INDUCES in details
which at this time must be of great interest
to the reader. According to this authority
the population of Granada is estimated at
from 1900 to 1900 souls, including the
suburb and separate nun icipality Of jail
teYa. 1t has seven churches, a hospital aud
nOminally university. 1t had anciently
two or three converts, but these were all
suppressed at the time of the revolution in
1873, and no attempt has since been made to
revive them. The edifices which they occu-
pied have either fallen into ruins or been
dedicated for other purposes.
The position of Granada was well chosen.
Upon the south, at d distance of a few
miles, rises the volcano of Mombacho with
its rag led crater, while on the west
uHdulating plains and low ridges Of land
intervene between the town and the Pacific
Ocean. Toward the north are only broad,
alluvial and densely wooded plains, possess
ing soil rich ana well adapted to the cuti-
vation of rice. sugar, cotton and cocoa, but
from no point of the surrounding country
can The traveller obtain Il satisfactory view
of the city. Its low houses are so over
shadowed by the trees which grow in the
court-yards and hem in the city on every
side that little can be seen except long lines
of mouOtOnous, red-tlled roofs and the tow
OF the CUuTcItS. II uttp IdNlDt, WHICH
seems to be chasm originally rent by all
earthquake and subsequently deepened by
the action of water extends around the cil y
on three sides AMI constitutes natural de-
tense OF no Insignificant Importance. 1t is
from sixty to 100 feet deep with absolutely
preciDitous sides and can only be passed at
Two OF three points where lateral inclined
planes have been articiatly cut from the
top to the bottom on one side, and from the
bottom TO the top on the other.
THE VOLCANO OF MoMBACHo,
Sometimes written in the old maps "Bom-
Lacuo," has a broad base and ragged SUM
NIT. II measures 4500 feet or little less
than one milein vertical height. Very few
Of the natives have ever ascended 1t, al
though nearly every one has some story TO
tell of the marvellous lake which exists at
It's summit and OF the wonderful things
which the traveller encounters In reaching 1t
The face OF the volcano toward Granada Is
inaccessible, and it is necessary 70 90 10 the
Indian town Of Diriouo, situated at the
southwestern base OF the mountain, to take
ones departure for the summit. Travellers
intending to visit the crater mount their
mules while it is yet dark in the morning
and start for Diri0mo. Passing under the
walls of the Campo Santo," white and
spsctral in the uncertain light a narrow path
in lhe dark forest is entered up0n, when the
sa.acity of the animals enables them to fol-
los the more sagaci0us white mule which
ALWAYS takes the lead. In the course of an
hour or more Of this precarious travelling
day breaks, and shortly after the cava.cade
energies into a comparatively rough aud
broken country. The slopes OF the volcano
are ciit in deep layInes. which turrOw
the sides and radiate from the base.
these ravines are filed with trees,
bushes and vines, while The ridges
brtween them are bare, supporting only
long, coarse grass. Passing through dark
thickets and emerging on the narrow sa-
vaDnas Of the ridges, glinpses of the lake
can be seen. In another hour the base of
the high, eonical hills OF sc0ria, bare Of
trees. but covered with grass, are reached.
They are regular in shape, and appear to
have been formed by the ashes and scoria
elected frCm The volcano when in state of