Ch. XIII.] NATIVE PLOUGH. 239 



still a variety of small trees, shrubs, and herbaceous 

 plants, reaching to the dry bed of the brook. 



After a steep and rocky ascent, we reached the top of 

 the range ; and before us lay the apex end of the valley 

 of Jinotega. Here it was very narrow, hemmed in by 

 rocky ranges capped with pine forests. Descending the 

 steep and rocky slope, we soon left the pines and oaks 

 above us, and came down on a narrow alluvial flat, 

 gradually widening out as we proceeded down the valley. 

 On each side of the road were fields of maize, suffering 

 greatly from the drought. The soil was a fine deep, dark 

 loam ; and for the first time in Nicaragua I found they 



NATIVE PLOUGH. 



ploughed their land, and made permanent fences. The 

 plough was a primitive implement, not unlike some of 

 those still in use in parts of Spain. It was entirely of 

 wood, excepting that the point was shod with an iron 

 plate. Many of the fences were hedges, amongst which 

 grew the lovely creeper (Anticjonon leptopus), with fes- 

 toons of pink and rose-coloured flowers. The Indian 

 and Mestizo girls bind it in their hair, and call it, " la 

 vegessima/' " the beautiful," It does not wither for 

 some time after being cut, and so is very suitable for 



