Native Plough 185 
came down on a narrow alluvial flat, gradually widening 
out as we proceeded down the valley. On each side of the 
road were fields of maize, suffering greatly from the drought. 
The soil was a fine deep, dark loam, and for the first time in 
Nicaragua I found they ploughed their land, and made 
permanent fences. The plough was a primitive implement, 
not unlike some of those still in use in parts of Spain. It 
was entirely of wood, excepting that the point was shod with 
an iron plate. Many of the fences were hedges, amongst 
which grew the lovely creeper Antigonon leptopus, with 
festoons of pink and rose-coloured flowers. The Indian 
and Mestizo girls bind it in their hair, and call it “ la veges- 
sima,” “ the beautiful.” It does not wither for some time 
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NATIVE PLOUGH 
after being cut, and so is very suitable for garlands and 
bouquets. It has been carried to Greytown and the West 
Indies; and whenever it flourishes, it is a great favourite. 
About a mile down the valley we reached the small town 
of Jinotega, and put up at the estanco kept by a very polite 
and dignified elderly gentleman, who, in the customary 
phrase of the country, placed himself, his house, and all he 
possessed, at our service. His wife, a bustling young woman, 
not more than half the age of her husband, set to work at 
once to get our dinner ready. There were several women- 
servants and many children about the house. It was kept 
cleaner than is usual in Nicaragua, and I noticed in the yard 
behind that some attempt at drainage had been made. Our 
host appeared to be in comfortable circumstances. Outside 
the town he had a small farm where he grew maize and 
wheat. He complained greatly of the drought, and said it 
