io8 NICARAGUA. 



The Mexicans used to mix the cacao with different 

 farinaceous substances, mixing a small quantity of capsicum 

 with it ; but the chocolate as it was made in the time of 

 Moctezuma was very simple. They rasped the seeds and 

 diluted the powder in boiling water. Sometimes they added 

 to it an aromatic substance. It was also drunk cold as a 

 refreshing beverage. 



Indians have given me some, prepared in that manner^ 

 and with sugar, I have found it excellent. As everyone 

 knows, it is much used for all sorts of creams, ices, sweets,. 

 &c., and there are few ladies, who are not fond of chocolate. 



Some fermented drinks are also made with the pods, and 

 the well-known drink Baravoise is also made with the seeds. 



The Hacienda belonging to Alonsieur Rouhaud, where I 

 collected some of my best species of Insects, was partly planted 

 with Cacao trees. Soon after my departure from Nicaragua it 

 was sold to Mr. Menier, of Paris, and is known now as Valle 

 Menier. It is the finest plantation of Cacao trees in 

 Nicaragua. It provides occupation for thousands of people. 



Another valuable tree, abundant in the primeval forests 

 of Nicaragua, is the Hule tree or India-rubber tree [Siphonia 

 elastica). It is a dicotyledonous plant, belonging to the 

 order Euphorbiaceae. 



This fine and valuable tree grows to a height of fifty to 

 eighty feet. It is getting scarce, because at first they used ta 

 cut the trees to get the india-rubber ; but now it is done on 

 more scientific principles, and some intelligent persons have 

 made plantations of these trees which are succeeding w^ell. 

 In the Paris International Exhibition of 1889, some fine sam- 

 ples of india-rubber were exhibited in the Nicaragua Pavilion. 

 The exhibits of Messrs. Menier Brothers were remarkable. 



The gathering of india-rubber is done by all the worst 

 characters. All the runaways from Nicaragua and Costa 

 Rica turn gatherers of india-rubber. They live for years in 

 the primeval forests searching for these trees. When found, 

 they climb upon them and make small incisions in the bark 

 at a distance of several yards from each other. From these 

 incisions, the sap or resin which is milky white, slowly comes 

 out and drops to the foot of the tree, where it is gathered 

 in due time. After a time it turns black, as sold in the 

 European markets. The gatherers say that it is very hard 

 work ; nevertheless, they make a good living by it, the price 

 of the resin rising gradually and constantly. 



Several always associate together for the gathering of 



