140 The Naturalist in Nicaragua 
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 slothfulness, 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 Liber- 
tad, where there was plenty of work. 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 wealthier Nicaraguans are rather proud of having 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 a hour’s work per day. 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 conquerors 
come throughout the length and breadth of the land. With 
perennial summer and a fertile soil they might drink the 
waters of abundance, but the bands of indolence have wound 
round them generation after generation, and now they are so 
bound up in the drowsy folds of slothfulness that they cannot 
break their silken fetters. Nota green vegetable, not a fruit, 
can you buy at Juigalpa. Beef, or a fowl—brown beans, 
rice, and tortillas—form the only fare. When Mexico 
becomes one of the United States, all Central America will 
soon follow. Railways will be pushed from the north into the 
tropics, and a constant stream of immigration will change 
the face of the country, and fill it with farms and gardens, 
orange groves, and coffee, sugar, cacao, and indigo planta- 
tions. No progress need be expected from the present 
inhabitants. 
Having finished our business in Juigalpa, we arranged to 
start on our return early the next morning, Velasquez going 
round by Acoyapo whilst Rito accompanied me to the mines. 
I had a fowl cooked overnight to take with us, and set off at 
six o'clock. JI shall make some remarks on the road on 
points not touched on in my account of the journey out. 
After leaving Juigalpa, we descended to the river by a rocky 
and steep path, crossed it, and then passed over alluvial-like 
