422 



REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AMERICA 



war with France, during which Vera Cruz was taken by the French, and the civil wars be 

 tween the centralists and federalists. The present state of the country is far from tranquil. 

 Civil commotions are still constantly occurring ; and the stability and quiet of real freedom arc 

 yet to be experienced. 



' CHAPTER LV. REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 



1. Boundaries and Divisions. Guatemala or the Republic of Central America is bounded 

 N. by the Mexican United States ; E. by the Caribbean sea ; S. by the Republic of New 

 Grenada, and W. by the Pacific Ocean. It lies between lat. 8'^ and 17° N., and long. 87° and 

 99° W., having an area of 185,000 square miles, with a population of about 2,000,000. It 

 is composed of 5 States, which are subdivided into partidos or districts, and of the Federal 

 District, which contains the seat of government. 



Stales. Population. Capitals. Population. 



Guatemala . . 850,(100 Old Guatemala . . . 20,000 



San Salvador . . . 350,000 San Salvador . . . 40,000 



Honduras . . . 280,000 Comayagua . . . 20,000 



Nicaragua .... 270,000 Leon .... 38,000 



Costa Rica . . . 150,000 San Josd . . . 20,000 



Federal District, ..... New Guatemala . . . 50,000 



2. Mountains. A lofty chain of mountains, forming a part of the great JWexican and Rocky 

 JMountain range traverses the country. It extends along the western coast not far from the 

 Pacific, and presents a series of 21 volcanic summits in constant activity. This part of the 

 country is subject to the most tremendous convulsions of nature, which have buried cities in 

 ruins, and destroyed whole tribes of people. The volcano of Jlgua^ and that of Fuego, both 

 near Guatemala., rise to the height of from 12,000 to 15,000 feet. 



3. Lakes and Rivers. The largest rivers flow down the eastern declivity of the mountains 

 into tlie Caribbean Sea. There is none of great extent, but several are navigable. The 

 JVIotagna, which flows through the State of Guatemala, the Ulua and Segovia of Honduras, 

 and the San Juan, 64 miles long, which forms the outlet of Lake Nicaragua, are the principal. 

 Lake ^iYicaragua^ 120 miles in length by 41 in breadth, is navigable for the largest vessels, and 

 receives the waters of Lake Leon, which is 10 miles to the northwest, by a navigable river. 

 Lake Leon is but 5 miles from the Tosta, which runs into the Pacific Ocean. A union of the 

 2 oceans through these channels is contemplated. In the State of Guatemala is Lake Dulce or 

 Izaval., communicating with the Bay of Honduras. 



4. Soil and Climate. The soil is in general good, and the climate exhibits the same varie- 

 ty as in the Mexican States. The productions are also similar, including indigo, tobacco, co- 

 chineal, cotton, wheat, maize, &c. 



5. Coasts and Bays. In the northeast, between Honduras and the Mexican State of Yuca- 

 tan, lies the large Bay of Honduras, the navigation of which is rendered dangerous by numer- 

 ous reefs and keys. On this bay is an English settlement called Balize, formed for the pur- 

 pose of cutting dye-wood and mahogany. It consists of about 200 whites and 3,000 slaves. 

 A great extent of coast to the south of the bay is occupied by the Sambo and Mosquito In- 

 dians, who have never been subdued by the whites. On the Pacific are only open road- 

 steads. 



6. Toions. JVew Guatemala, the capital of the republic, is situated in a pleasant and fertile 

 valley, which enjoys a delightful climate. It was built in 1774, in consequence of the almost 

 entire destruction of Old Guatemala by an earthquake. The streets are broad, clean, and 

 straight ; the houses are generally low, on account of the frequency of earthquakes, and pro- 

 vided with gardens and fountains. The cathedral, the government house, the archbishop's 

 palace, the mint, and several of the churches, are handsome buildings. The commerce and 

 manufactures of the city are extensive. Population, 50,000. 



Old Guatemala, capital of the State of Guatemala, has been several times destroyed by 

 earthquakes, and lies between the volcanoes of Agna and Fuego. It suffered much from an 

 earthquake in ISoO. It formerly contained 50 or 60 churches, and several large convents, 

 which are now- in ruins. Its cathedral is one of the largest in America. Population, 20,000. 

 Chiquimula, in the same State, is a place of about 35,000 inhabitants. 



