NOTES ON TURBULENT NICARAGUA 



1103 



Photo from Mrs Harriet Chalmers Adams 

 METHOD OF BUILDING RAILROADS IN THE SWAMP LAND OF NICARAGUA 



ance, physical, moral, and political, and 

 the mountains and men have between 

 them contrived to almost compass its de- 

 struction."* 



Nicaragua, the largest of the Central 

 American Republics, extends over an 

 area of 49,200 square miles, equal to that 

 of the State of New York, with a popu- 

 lation estimated at about 600,000. 



Two mountain ranges traverse its en- 

 tire territory. Due to this fact it enjoys 

 a diversity of climate, products, and soil. 

 The fertile plateaus are extremely 

 healthful and pleasant, but the lowlands 

 are hot and tropical. Coffee, cacao, and 

 bananas are the principal articles of ex- 

 port, but sugar cane, tobacco, cotton, 

 maize, and wheat are successfully grown. 

 Numerous minerals and precious metals 

 are found in the mountains. The vast 

 forests contain over forty different spe- 

 cies of trees furnishing oils and extracts 



* From "The Capitals of Spanish-America," 

 by W. E. Curtis. 



used for industrial and medicinal pur- 

 poses — mahogany and other valuable cab- 

 inet woods. 



In the depression in which are situated 

 the picturesque lakes Nicaragua and 

 Managua are extensive plains affording 

 excellent pasturage for cattle, and it is 

 in this part of the country that most of 

 the larger cities are to be found. The 

 east coast, commonly known as the Mos- 

 quito coast, is but sparsely settled. The 

 Indians inhabiting the Mosquito country 

 are noted for their unique industries, 

 such as the manufacture of various kinds 

 of jewelry, especially the so-called Pan- 

 ama gold chains, hammocks, straw hats, 

 and pottery, all of which find a ready 

 market. 



Columbus, on his fourth and last voy- 

 age, in exploring the coast of Central 

 America, and after touching at Cape 

 Honduras, was driven by the stress of 

 weather to take shelter where the coast 

 line turns abruptly from west to south. 



