New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-14


commonplace under the most favorable conditions.
and in the long rainy season, lasting from May
70 December. they are foul unhealthy and in|
tolerably dismal The only towns which can nave
even the charm Of novelty 10 the Traveller are
rambling Masaya with its wild pleasure-ioVins
Indian population and dsorderly fruit gardens, ana
Cbnandega and Matagalpa, with their huddies OF
native huts cluttered together in defiance OF Inv
checker-board design for Spanish-Amerlcaa com
munity.
There is, however exceedingly varied scenery 70
be seen on the western plateau. have referred
I'm o. previous letter TO Ometepe and Mombacho the
ma iestlc mountain landmarks Of Lake Nicaragua.
Further north there is another series OF volcanoes
known as the Marabios, and seen 10 great adj
vantage from the steamer in the passage across
Lake Managua. These lava-strcaked mountaiM
vary In height from 1000 TO 1000 feet, and there
are fourteen OF them clustered between the lake
and the Gulf of Fonseca Momotombito, an island
hummock in the lake at the base Of giant Mono
tombo is the southernmost OF the series 'lejo,
back of Corinto, lies at the northern bound Of thH
old-time centre of volcanic energy. Momotombo
ordinarily has a curling wreath OF smoke ascend
ing from It's crater, but IL was not on exhibition
as live volcano when passed it. AS a mountain
of magnificent proportions, symmetry OF form,
America The forests extend from the shore OK
the lake 10 the edge of the crater, where thec
is rank grass among the ash-heaps and lava oeds'
The little volcano in front of 10 Is foil for Its
impressive majesty and grandeur, and the Two
mountains once seen across the green level OF
Lake Managua will linger In the memory, sllhou'
cite Of beauty and delight forever
From this ragged line Of volcanoes TO the coast
are broad levels admirably adapted for tho culti-
walton Of coffee and cacao. At the base of Mono
tombo there is picturesque Indian hamlet where
the railway train Is taken for Leon and Cornto.
The first stage Of the journey is made through
forest tract where there are occasional clearlnS
nnd glmpses of the volcanoes. AS Leon is APP
preached, wild pineapple fences are seen, with
herds of cattle in green pastures Here, as at
Granada there are cacao and coffee plantations,
the shrubs growing in the dense shade of banana
and coral trees Palms become more conspicuous
as the coast is approached. The plain OF Leon,
bounded by the volcanoes and the sea, has great
natural beauty II IL were in a high state OF
cultivation and the scrub forest were cleared away
| It would be the loveliest garden in Central
America.
The military resources of Nicaragua are con-
centrated in the barracks at Granada. Managus
| and Leon more fantastic army It would be
| difficult to find. The soldiers wear uniforms
startling in their range and variety, and many
| of them mount guard in bare feet. AT every
| hour of the day battalion is TO be seen lollns
| on the benches at headquarters or staggering
about with their rifles carelessly flung across their
| shoulders Nicaragua men are short In stature,
| lean and ill-built, with sharp and Irregular
| features. There is not sufficient material In the
whole republic from which to recruit an able
bodied regiment Of fighting warriors. Tie
soldiers on guard at the headquarters are feeble
and spiritless rabble fit only for ornamenting the
barrack benches and enlivening the religious
| PROFESSIONS in Holy Week.
Nicara4uan women are dumpy and stout, with
swarthy faces, black hair braided and tightly
coiled. and eyes that are soft and lustrous Gus
| tom allows them 10 go about the streets and 10
engage in ordinary house occupations In low-cut
embroidered chemlsss ana cheap gowns Ml. S
woman, of the lower class when she kneads Dough
| for bread or cooks breakfast before an open
fire, closely initiates the society bellies of higher
| shoulders They go about bareheaded and with
| naked feet, and with their olive and COPPER
T IeSiea '' SaPPeneeSs. They are not a. i'm
| modest as their style of dress and volatile tenn
peraments would indicate There are few c SU
honest as in Nicaragua Although the door, Of
sleeping rooms In the hotels are neither boIted
rooms, under conditions favorable for robbery,
thieves are unknown. have never travelled IN
| O foreign country where had the same sense OK
security against dishonesty. Even the hackmen
| In the towns have consciences, and do not seek
| to Overcharge strangers.
| Nicaragua is an intensely religious country. IL
| has been my fortune TO pass from ocean 10 ocean
during Holy Week and 20 witness the image
bearing professions from town to town. At Grey
| town missed the closing scenes OF the PASSION
play, enacted in the bare plaza and the sacred
precincts Of I" Jerusalem The triumphal entry
under palm branches the last SaPpe I the ct5c a
fxion between thieves, and the resurrection meet
Ing with the holy women are reproduced there
with startling realism The part Of saviour Te :
ing bordering upon fanaticism. The last supper
Is eaten with the twelve on raised platform
| The crowd join in the fierce acclaim " Cruelty
him! and three men hang upon as, many crosses
in the sight of the town, the nails only being
dispensed with. After the Crucifxion there Is q
funeral pageant, and a large image of the Saviour
is taken in glass coffin to the church, with the
chief men of the as pall.bearers and honorary
guard Such was the account OF the proceedings
given to me by residents. but cannot vouch foi
the details.
In the western towns religious professions take
the place of this crude passion play At Ora
parade every night during Holy Week. A large
image is strapped upon mule on Palm SUNDAY
and escorted BY priests, soldiers and bands &c. o.
day there are professions with many as twenty
| or thirty images dressed in purple and black
| hundreds OF men ana women JON In the paIaIe
behind the hearse. and carry lighted candles which
have been blessed for the occasion and are sup
posed to possess peculiar sanctity. The bands play
dirges, the garrson marches TO drum-beat and the
t0rch-bearers enter the churches and PROSTATE
| themselves before the altar. Business Is sus-
pended during these solemn days, and the run.
ming OF railway trains is prohibited by the Gov.
eminent Easter finds the churches filed with the
| images Of the Virgin in full mourning and OF the
Cruciiied with rven side and pierced hands and
| feet. Incongruous the effects of costume anu
| drapery often are and coarse and even vulgar
as are the images, there is no lack Of reverence
on the part of the people l. " I.
- REQUESTS FOR OLD BOOKS.
From The Speaker.