62 THE NATURALIST IX NICARAGUA. [Ch. V. 



Lake of Nicaragua. The surface of the land in the 

 forest region forms a succession of ranges and steep 

 valleys, covered with magnificent timber and much 

 undergrowth. Santo Domingo lies about 2000 feet 

 above the level of the sea, and the hills around it rise 

 from 500 to 1000 feet higher. It is built in the bend of 

 a small stream, the head waters of a branch of the Blew- 

 fields river, on a level, low piece of ground, with the brook 

 winding almost round it, and, beyond that, encircled by an 

 amphitheatre of low hills in the hollow of which it lies. 

 The road to the mines runs through it, and forms the 

 main street, having on each side thatched stores and 

 irregularly built houses. The inhabitants, about three 

 hundred in number, are entirely dependent on the mines 

 around, there being no cultivation or any other employ- 

 ment in the immediate neighbourhood. The people are 

 of a mixed descent, in which Indian blood predominates,, 

 then Spanish with a slight admixture of the Negro ele- 

 ment, whilst amongst the rising generation many fair- 

 haired children can claim paternity amongst the numerous 

 German and English workmen that have been employed 

 at the mines. The storekeepers form the aristocracy of 

 the village. They are indolent ; lounging about, or lying 

 smoking in their hammocks the greater part of the day, 

 but generally civil and polite. They are particular in 

 their dress, and may often be seen in faultless European 

 costume, silk umbrella in hand, in twos or threes, taking a 

 short quiet walk up the valley. The lower class of miners 

 are scantily and badly clothed, especially when they 

 come first to the mines. They are bare-footed, with poor 

 ragged cotton trousers and a thin jacket of the same 

 material. Generally, after being a year or two at the- 



