Ch. X.] INDOLENCE OF THE PEOPLE. 177 



ficial rockery, or the grey walls of a castle covered with 

 ivy. The range to the south-west is several miles dis- 

 tant, and is called San Miguelito by the Spaniards, but 

 I could not learn its Indian name. 



Our host was a musician, whose wife attended to the 

 guests. As usual, a number of relations lived with them, 

 including the mother of our hostess and two of her 



o 



brothers. It was a very fair sample of a family amongst 

 what may be called the middle class in Nicaragua. The 

 master of the house plays occasionally in a band at 

 dances and festas, and holds a respectable position at 

 Juigalpa, where the highest families keep stores and 

 shops. 



The only work is done by the females the men keep 

 up their dignity by lounging about all day, or lolling in a 

 hammock, all wearied with their slotlifulness, and looking 

 discontented and unhappy. One brother told me he was 

 a carpenter, the other a shoemaker ; but that there was 

 nothing to do in Juigalpa. I suggested that they should 

 go to Libertad, where there was plenty of work ; but 

 they said there was too much rain there. As long as 

 their brother-in-law will allow them, they will remain 

 lounging about his house ; and that will probably be as 

 long as he has one, for I noticed that the Nicaraguans 

 are rather proud to have a lot of relations hanging about 

 and dependent on them. Now and then they do little 

 spells of work get in the cows or doctor one that is 

 sick but I doubt if any of them average more than 

 half an hour's work per day ; but even this may be an 

 equivalent for their board, which does not cost much, 

 being only a few tortillas and beans. 



To this have the descendants of the Spanish con- 



N 



