WILD LIFE 



IN THE 



INTERIOR OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 



CHAPTER L 



REASONS FOR EXPLORING CENTRAL AMERICA. THE 



VOYAGE. REALEJO. LEON. — CLEARING LAND. — MODE 



OF LIFE. PROVISIONS. 



QNE of the reasons that induced me to ex- 

 plore the Interior of Central America, was 

 the report I had heard of the mineral riches 

 contained in that country, and although the 

 report partly proceeded from persons who 

 had not been far from the coast, yet I heard 

 enough to make me believe that in the high 

 mountain regions of the interior many a rich 

 virgin mine awaited the explorer. Another 

 reason was, the spirit of adventure inherent in 

 almost all Englishmen ; and a third was, the 

 wish of returning home from Chili, where I 

 was then residing, by some other route than 



B 



