CHAPTER XIX. 



Iguanas and Lizards Granada Politics Revolution Cacao Culti- 

 vation Masaya The Lake of Masaya The Volcano of Masaya 

 Origin of the Lake Basin. 



THE road passed along a sandy ridge only a little 

 elevated above the waters of the lake, and the ground on 

 both sides was submerged. As we travelled on we were 

 often startled by hearing sudden plunges into the water 

 not far from us, but our view was so obstructed by 

 bushes that it was some time before we discovered the 

 cause. At last we found that the noise was made bv 



V 



large iguana lizards, some of them three feet long, and 

 very bulky, dropping from the branches of trees, on 

 which they lay stretched, into the water. These iguanas 

 are extremely ugly, but are said to be delicious eating, 

 the Indians being extremely fond of them. The Carca 

 Indians, who live in the forest seven miles from Santo 

 Domingo, travel every year to the great lake to catch 

 iguanas, which abound on the dry hills near it. They 

 seize them as they lie on the branches of the trees, with 

 a loop at the end of a long stick. They then break the 

 middle toe of each foot, and tie the feet together, in 

 pairs, by the broken toes, afterwards sewing up the 

 mouth of the poor reptiles, and carrying them in this 

 state back to their houses in the forest, where they are 



