Ch. XV.] WOODS OF EVERGREEN OAK. 289 



that had destroyed most of the maize crop in that 

 province, although in Chontales, on one side of it, we 

 had had rather more rain than usual, and in Segovia, on 

 the other, we had seen that the crops were excellent. 

 Probably the high ranges that bound Matagalpa on 

 every side had intercepted the rains and drained the 

 winds of their moisture. 



Having made such an early halt, we intended to 

 have made up for it by an equally early start the next 

 morning, but were detained by our mules having strayed 

 during the night, and it was seven o'clock before they 

 could be found. "We had a long day's journey before us, 

 during which we should not be able to buy any pro- 

 visions, so, over night, Kite's sister had cooked a fowl 

 for us to take with us. She had married one of the 

 smallest settlers of Sontuli, and, although still young and 

 fresh-looking, had already three lusty children. The 

 great number of children at all the houses had sur- 

 prised me greatly, as I had been told that the country 

 was decreasing in population. This, I have no doubt, is 

 a mistake, and the inhabitants, if the country should 

 remain at peace, would multiply rapidly. 



On leaving Sontuli, the road led over mountain pas- 

 tures and through woods of the evergreen oak draped 

 from top to bottom with the grey moss- like Tillandsia, 

 which hung in long festoons from every branch, and was 

 wound around the trunks, like garlands, by the wind : 

 the larger masses, waving in the breeze, hung down for 

 four or five feet below the branches. The small birds 

 build in them, and they form excellent hiding-places for 

 their nests, where they are tolerably secure from the 



attacks of their numerous enemies. I had often, when 



u 



