260 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



745. Five leagues of level country with groves and forests, and 

 among them a few cattle ranches and indigo laboratories (of both 

 of which there is a good deal in this province), and one comes to 

 the Indian village of Managua, built on the shores of the lake. This 

 village is large and very attractive and well supplied. It is the usual 

 residence of the Corregidor who is appointed by the President for 

 these provinces. They work up quantities of cochineal carmine here, 

 and cordage for shipping. Many Spaniards live here, and in the inns 

 or taverns there are traders whom they call quebrantahuesos (nui- 

 sances) or mercachifles (peddlers; Ht., one who pares his goods), 

 because they operate on small capital. They sell the Indians native 

 and Spanish cloth, hats, knives, and other such notions, and cacao, 

 which serves them for money ; they barter and exchange commodities 

 for others. In this village they raise quantities of corn, kidney beans, 

 and other cereals and vegetables ; there is abundance of fish which 

 they catch in the lake, which empties into the Laguna Grande less 

 than I GO paces below it, although this lake is over 25 leagues in 

 circumference. They have many kinds of delicious native fruit in 

 this village, and although the climate is hot, it is healthy, being on 

 sandy soil. 



746. Four leagues beyond Managua toward the city of Granada, 

 is the village of Nindiri, with so much fruit and so attractive that 

 it seems a bit of Paradise. They make quantities of cordage here, 

 and cotton sailcloth for the Peruvian ships. There is no water in 

 this village, so they go down for it to a nearby lake which is very 

 deep ; if I were to try to describe it and this district, I should cer- 

 tainly have to lengthen my pen. 



747. About half a league beyond this village comes that of Masaya, 

 which is one of the largest in this province. It is a very pleasant 

 spot, with plenty of fruit, corn, and other cereals and vegetables, 

 although it has no water ; in fact, the Indians get water from the 

 same lake as do those of Nindiri. In this village they make quantities 

 of cordage and canvas, which is an important business in this country, 

 and the Corregidores get rich. Near this village rises the volcano 

 of Masaya which is so famous ; although the range in which it lies 

 is low in comparison with the height of the others, it surpasses them 

 in volume of flame and smoke which it sends out ; there is so much 

 that when the wind is right, it carries such thick smoke that it appears 

 a huge thick cloud. 



748. One league from Masaya is the village of Monimbo, capital 

 of this Corregimiento, with the same products as those before ; there 

 are other Indian villages, such as Niquinihomo, Nicaragua de Los 



