The National tribune., 1902-07-31
NICARAGUA. II.
! lnf
Customs and Conditicns Among Our Cen
tral American Neighbors.


The Government Of Nicaragua is mill
tary dcspotism rmasduerading under thu
ramc of II republic.1 The credit of tn,
country is bad. heesilvcr money goes fol
lis bullion value, and Government paper
money is something to be wary of, to bt
bargained for il needed, the necessities OF
the moment governing the rate of eN
change. which is generally about three OF
four paper dollars for one Of gold.
The people of Nicaragua are of Indian
Spanish and negro blood. As a rule. they
are rather larger than the Mexicnns, and
have ticrccr and more aggressive look
and manner. The Indian type is ilat-facec
and dull of expression. The Spanish type
is dark. has high chcekbJnes, quick, rest
Tess eye. and II rather graceful and brl
gandish way of drapins the cloak and
wearing the hrOad-brimmed hat. 1ht
negro is nnniistakablc when a full-blood
and leaves Il strong mark Oh the mixture
with Indian or Spanish blood. The haiI
generally tells the ancestral story. Mosl
or the negroes are found on the east coast
which is easy of acrcss from Jamaica and
other islands OF the West indies.
The natives of Nicaragua view the
stranger with Il sort of naughty and even
contcnptu0us Indifference. They give the
impression of cruel and warlike people
dlihcult to keep in order and aggressive In
maintaining the integrity Of their territory
ihey are Il strange contrast to the people
of Costa Ricl, for the latter are the most
peaceful and gentle of all Central Ameri
cans. In Costa Rica, beauty among the
women is very general. In Nicaragua
even Il fairly good-looking woman is eX-
trcncly uncommon in ahy class, rich OF
pOor.
Nearly every one carries arms of some
Descriptions rifle, Il revolver, knife or
machetc; and. while there is little need OF
them on the higi roads of travel, Il tourist
going for Il horseback ride in the interior
or any distance from officers of the law Is
urged to make Il display Of Il revolver at
least. to indicate his ability to defend him
self. The only danger is from highway
robbery. as banditti are plentiful. The
wcalthicr natives generally go well armed
and ofttimes in travelling through the corn'
try take with them an armed escort. In
all places of Importance II detachment OF
the nondcscript Nicaragnan army is sta
toned. The soldiers are oflicered by friends
Of the President. men OF some education,
and considerable manner. but the rank ana
| file are cOnscript upon whom close watch
is kept to prevent dcsertion.
Corinto. the main entrance on the west
coast, is one of the best harbors OF the
| Pacific side. \ small lighthouse marks
one side of the narrow entrance.
and as the steamer salutes with
three whistles Il man ashore beats
| with Il stick on one of the iron pii-
liars of the lighthouse to acknowledge tht
signal. The dcfenscs of this harbor CON
sist of few old cannon which may have
been left there by Walker. the filibustcr.
but which look as if they We're of even
older vintage anl m5y have been brought
here by the Spaniards several hundred
years ago. As cthc. steamer proceeds NJ
the channel. sharp turn to the left brings
into view Il prertyi little, village. almost
hidden in palm leaycs and cOcOanut trees.
but above all towers the belfry Of the in
political and even commercial life in The
Central American fepublics. As the yes
sci comes to anchor, it is surrounded by
swarm of native cin0es. seeking fares tn
the shores. Very few foreigners make
their permanent residence in Nicaragua.
A few Englishnicn. 6f course. for they are
everywhere: Il few Germans and few
Corinto is n small town and under the
beautiful palms there is nothing but
Isqualor. dirt and nnhealthfulness: Inc
town has little whr history of its OWE
of quite recent day. for it was but Few
years ago that England sent nve big var
ships into the liarb0r and demanded re
dress for injury to British subject. The
natives did not care much for the town.
anyway, which is not surprising. so they
prepared to retreat. leaving it IN the nanis
Of the British navy.
Just back of Cornto. the railroad on its
way to the interior crosses little bay Of
inlet. and plans were laid for every one
to board the train and leave the next
rorning. The Nicaraguans had conside:-
able sport in advance over the discontinue
of the English which was to come. In ihe
meantime. some vcnturesOme English L,.;!-
tenant had been prospecting IN Small
boat and making few soundinSs. he u.s.
4 Ill. ,.,.I AlxA 4ntt 4.
navigabe for large vessels. In the morn
| ing the train left COrinto according TO
schedule. but when the bridge was reached.
| to the dismay of the retreating force, there
| lay British war vessel with her guns
trained on the rickety structure over which
the train was expected to pass. The popu-
latiOn of Corinto returned to town aud sur
rendered the city without firing shot. The
British tars furnished the native band with
the music of "God Save the Queen" and
the band with feverish haste learned TO
give a very fair rendition of the air and
played it morning, noon and night for some
time thereafter. The wholesome respect
thus inculcated was shown quite recently
when Il reception was given to newly ar
rived German diplomat. To the latter's
astonishment, as he set foot upon the Cor
into pier the Nicaragua band struck up
God Save the Queen and everybody took
his hat off until it was finished. The Cor
into people still remember the warsAlp
which came in the night and so mysteri-
ously sailed in behind the town.
The hotel at Corinto is typical of all the
hotels in the country towns. Downstairs n
large general roOm-which is office, saloon
and parlor-and dining-rOom and a
kitchen. In the center of the house the
usual open court, which is used as a din
ing-room in fair weather. Upstairs are the
bedrooms. each opening upon an inside and
| fsi1 Ia nd .fh hn in
front of each room is Il grass hammock for
the noon siesta. The beds are canvas cots
with one sheet and pillow, everything
enveloped with the mucll-needed mosquito
netting, There is more life at night than
there is in the daytime, and the traveller,
unaccustOmcd to the racket, will have
much difficulty in getting sleep, what with
the noise made by the servants, the arriv-
ing and departing of guests. and the
squeaking of pigs as they are beaten with
sticks TO keep them out of the rooms be-
low. 1t is a relief TO escape in the morn
ing to a very fair-looking railroad car of
American make, which, drawn by an
American-madeo engine, makes the journey
to the interior. siAll of the rolling stock is
imported from the United States, but the
dirt which is allowed to accumulate there
in is Of purely native origin.
The first city Of any size at which the
train from COEinto stops is Chinandaga.
the erstwhile capital of that evanescent
political dream, The Greater Central
American Republic.p The Great Republic.
or the United States of Central America" ;"