Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-30
AN ADOBE HOUSE.

the usual methods of the Spaniards in the
new world, but the name was applied to
the country about, and is retained by 1t
at the present day
Nature in lavishing her favors on this
land left little for the heart of man to de-
sire Though the country lies in the trop-
tcs, almost any climate desired may be
found 1t is simply a matter of climbing
the mountains to the proper altitude above
the sea level to find either a perpetual
summer, spring or autumn. There, where
nature fOreStallS every necessity the
primeval curse of labor is a barely per-
ceptible burden Fruits grow in reckless
profusion. Cattle breed and multiply upon
the fertile plains, furnishing meat and the
mere matter of conventionality rather
than of necessity.
Little is known of 1t.
One might search far and find no other
country about which there is less reliable
information than about Nicaragua. 1t is
as large as New England, with a popula-
ton less than that of Boston, which being
said completes the sum of statistical
knowledge. There are no reliable statistics
No trustworthy census has ever been taken
and none of any kind for many years. A
decade ago the population was estimated
al JOo.ovO- Recently 1t has been put at
half that number-a population of easy
going. careless humanity, regardless of to-
day as of tomorrow, for they know that
but copy of yesterday.
The general configuration Of the country
has been compared to ones right hand
opened with the palm upward and the
thumb close to the side. On the.side of the
thumb you will have the Atlantic; on the
other. the Pacific ocean. while in the hollow
of the hand you will hold the great lake.
The irregular line at the junction of the
wrist called by the palmists the life line
will represent the San Juan river carrying
of the water of the lake to the ocean. The
area of the country is $500 square miles,
sufficient to maintain population Of a
million people. The great lake is remark
able sheet of water, 12J miles long and from
forty to seventy-five miles wide. From the
middle OF the lake the shore line on either
side is invisible. There are a number OF
islands In the lake, including the two vol
canoes, Omepetec and Mederia, which rise
TO an altitude, respectively, Of $3.50 and
400 feet. North OF this great lake there Is
another but smaller lake. connected with
the former in times Of food
In the Interior.
There is a remarkable difference in the
character OF the country east and west OF
the lakes. The mountain sides and the pla-
teaus of the eastern slope are covered with
perennial green. while the country west OF
the lakes during the dry season. January
to May. is sere and yellow. Yet 1t is this
western part of the country that Is the
more thickly populated.
Journeying westward from the Atlantic
coast, the traveller crosses first the fiat
lands covered with great forests of trop-
zeal jungle. This land Is characterized by
the black alluvial soil which covers 1t at
great depth Gradually the land rises
and rocks and gravel crop out OF the loan.
Settlements are rare and human habita-
lions are far between, though the fer
tility of the land Is SO great when once
cleared Of its stupendous growth that corn
planted with a sharpened stick grows luz
uriantly and no cultivation with either
pillow or hoe is required. This territory ex-
tending from the San Juan river to Cape
Honduras on the north, has long been
known as the Mosquito country or king
dom Its sparse inhabitants constitute a
tribe OF queer brown Indians, who paint
their faces red to scare the devil and In
dulge in a number of other more or less
customs and ceremonies. But they are
harmless people, under chiefs who make