Guatimala. - M E X I C O, O R N E W S P A I N. 43 



fea by a canal, which is narrow and full of bars and fhoals ; near the mouth 

 of it, where it is not above a mile over, is the caltle of St. 'John, about 

 50 leagues from Granada that commands the channel. This lake abounds with 

 filh, which are fo much the better, on account of its having a flux and reflux, 

 like the fea. The navigation of the lake is managed by flat-bottom boats built 

 at Granada, that trade to Puerto Vdo and Carthagena, but in a very tedious, 

 the' not dangerous manner, chiefly on account of idlenefs and want of applica- 

 tion in the Spaniards, who, from being very adive and vigorous as they were 

 when they firfl: fettled in this country, are now become flow, cautious, and 

 fo wedded to their own opinions, that cuflom is alvv'ays a flironger argument 

 than reafon. it is faid confidently, perhaps not without truth, that there is 

 a great deal of fmuggling carried on by the help of this navigation, which 

 certainly might be ufed to a much better purpofe than it is, if the pofl^eflTors 

 of this country v/ere of the fame difpofition with other nations. 



But becaufe the river, which ifllics from the lake, and falls by three mouths 

 or channels into the North-Sea, is interrupted with cataradls, they trouble not 

 themfelves about it, as they are afraid, if they fhould take pains to remove 

 thefe difficulties, and to open a commodious pofl: on this fide, it might in- 

 vite enemies to think, not only of plundering, but of taking poflTeflion of it ; 

 to prevent which, the infl:ru6lions from the king of Spain to the governor of 

 St. John?, caftle is, not to permit any Britijh fubjc6l to pafs either up or 

 down this lake, for the Spaniards fay, if once the Englijlo come to a knowledge 

 of the importance and value of this lake, they will foon make themfelves 

 maflers of this part of the country. 



Leon, the capital city of the province of Nicaragua, is large and populous ; 

 it fl:ands at the edge of the lake, 20 miles diftant from the South-Sea. The 

 plain in which it is feated is fandy, furrounded on every fide with fine meads. 

 The houfes are not high built, but ftrong and large, wdth gardens about 

 them 5 their walls ftone, and their covering pantiles. It is the fee of a bifhop, 

 (under the archbifhop of Mexico') who has a cathedral and palace, and likewife 

 the refidence of 2^SpaniJh governor, appomted by the viceroy of Mexico. Here 



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