230 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



backed by strange-looking volcanic mountains. 

 On the east side the blue horizon was alone 

 visible ; and on the west, about sixteen miles 

 from us, the north and south shores had 

 contracted to a sort of canal, about half a 

 mile in breadth, and which seemed to com- 

 municate with the former-mentioned lake. 

 From this spot all the canoes and piraguas 

 that are going to the eastward take their 

 departures during the north winds, that 

 throw a great surf upon the coast near 

 Granada ; but I had no time to explore, as 

 my stay was only six days, which were fully 

 occupied in seeking out a good piragua, w r ith 

 a trust-worthy crew of Indians, and laying in 

 stock and provisions for a three weeks'* cruize, 

 though our voyage only lasted a fortnight. 

 Granada, at the time I was there, was in a 

 state of excitement, produced by a curious 

 cause. 



A Frenchman, who called himself the 

 vice-consul, and who hoisted the tri-coloured 

 flag over his store, or rather shop, had just 

 returned from France, and among many 

 speculations, had hit upon the following 

 one : — He had found an old book in France, 

 written during the time of the empire, when 

 French hatred, and ignorance of everything 



