The National tribune., 1902-07-31

which apparently represent all that is lef
of the real artistic ability of their ancestor:
who worked in clay.
For many miles out on the Pacific Ocear
and from nearly any part Of western Mica
ragua can be seen the great volcanic noun
tain of M0motombO. A delicate wreath Of
smoke issues from the crater at its peak
1t Is bare cone except for some shrut
timber encircling the base, and, like the
people over whom it stands guard, revo
ntion is always brewing i'll its heart. Lake
Managua is fine body of water. nearly
circular and about 80 miles in diameter
1t has several little green islands, one OF
them called Momotombito. or Little Mono
tombo. MomotombO has not yet developed
any vicious habits and does not even
smoke. On one of my journeys through
Nicaragua l stopped at Managua, the
capital
The climate of Managua is bad and it is
Il very unhealthy city. In the rainy sea
son the streets are muddy and the fever is
everywhere In the dry season the dust is
several inches deep in the streets. and the
entire population gasps for breath and
suffers from the most profound depression
OF spirits in fear of the climate. Even
the residents of the place make no attempt
to find excuse for the conditions which pre-.
vail. except TO protest against n Govern
ment which spends nothing for the people
those in control. There are beauties in
the surroundings. and a few who can af
ford it have built Summer places. or .'fin-
cas-. in the suburbs near the shores OF
Lake Managua. These have been planted
with young cocoa palms and other tropica
plants. and will in time make very beauti
frl resorts. The view of the lake is fine
and one can always have sport on the
banks. shooting at the enormous alligators
which every few moments make their ap-
pcarance at the waters edge.
Between Managua and Grenada lies \
wcll-'ilcd and fertile stretch of country
Grenada is quite the most. fOrcign-loOkine
city in this part of the 1sthmus. Shaken
by earthquakes and ravaged by fire. it has
acres of ruins and miles of streets prac
tically deserted. The city is not in favor
public. as it is the hotbed Os the opposi-
ton party. The city offices are filed with
friends Of the President and there is con-
Stant friction with the population. In all
social gatherings the city officers and the
officers of the military garrison are So
verely cyclnded. One night. when l was
there. n dance was given by the best people
of the town. and to this dance We're invited
nearly all of the foreign colony, which
however. is not large at Grenada. The
Commandante of the garrison was not in.
vited. and to even matters up he raided
the gathering The women were driven
into corner by soldiers with bayOneted
guns and all the men present were taken
off to jail leaving the women to get home
the best they might.
From Grenada to the Atlantic coast the
journey is all by water. first across Lake
Nicaragua and then down the San Juan
River to GreytOwn. This is an interesting
part Of the trip. but the traveller is moi
brought into contact with the life of the
country as he is in travelling overland. The
Journey from the Pacific to the Atlantic
across Nicaragua by the way of this old
and long-estabished trail is one which will
give an excellent idea of the character OF
I'll the Central American countries, OF
which Nicaragua is probably the worst gov
nrned and the most backward. but to
Americans the most interesting. in view Of
the Dossiblc construction of an fsthmian
canal. II nav not he long before the neo-
nlc of the United States are more or less
intimately acquainted with the resources OF
the country and the peculiarities of the
peoplc.-COllier' Weekly.