254 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECllOMS VOL. 102 



groves and forests, so that it seems a paradise. But from Sutiaba to 

 Granada there is not one stream the whole way, although the country 

 is fertile and prolific, with many cattle and mule ranches and indigo 

 laboratories ; being level country it all seems one forest. 



Chapter XXVIII 



Of the Corregimiento and District of the Village and Province 

 of Quezalguaque and Sutiaba, and the City of Leon. 



732. The Corregimiento of the Province of Quezalguaque adjoins 

 that of Realejo ; it is 7 leagues distant from the port, and 3 from 

 the village of Posoltega. It has the same climatic conditions, abun- 

 dance of foodstufifs and general attractiveness as those just men- 

 tioned ; it has streams of beautiful water and many fruit trees, and 

 also large forests, as in the Province of El Viejo. They raise quan- 

 tities of corn, kidney beans, and other cereals and vegetables ; there 

 is abundance of goats and poultry, and much wild game. In this 

 village and in those of its district they produce much cordage from 

 the fiber of the maguey or henequen plant ; it has abundant supplies 

 of everything. There are Spaniards living here, engaged in business. 

 It has other Indian villages in its district, such as Telica and Sutiaba, 

 which is the largest in its jurisdiction. This is i league from the 

 capital, and the residence of the Corregidor who is appointed by the 

 President of Guatemala for its good administration and the dis- 

 pensing of justice. This village of Sutiaba is somewhat cooler than 

 the others ; it has abundance of the same products, and much rope 

 and cordage is made here. Some Spaniards live here, and business 

 is brisk because of the abundance of everything and because it is 

 on the King's Highway of this province and only a couple of gun- 

 shots from the new city of Leon. In the district of this Corregimiento 

 they manufacture some indigo. There is a volcano which is always 

 active and emitting flame. It rises from a low mountain range, and 

 throws out such sheets of flame that it looks like a prairie fire raging. 



733. The city of Leon, capital of these provinces, seat of the 

 Cathedral and residence of the Governors, was likewise founded by 

 Capt. Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba at the direction of Pedro 

 Arias de Avila, Governor of Castilla del Oro (who resided in 

 Panama) in the year 15^3, on the shores of the smaller lake (Laguna 

 Menor) 21 leagues from Granada. It lies on a level, pleasant, and 

 tranquil plain, not far from a lofty volcano which emits quantities 

 of flame. This Capt. Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba was beheaded 

 by Gov. Pedro Arias de Avila in the year 1526 in this city of Leon, 



