281 



It appears somewhat probable that the pro- 

 vince of Nicaragua will be fixed upon for the 

 great work of the junction of the two Oceans; 

 and in that case it will not be necessary to form 

 a line constantly navigable. The isthmus to 

 be passed over, is only from 5 to 6 marine 

 leagues ; there are some hills in the narrowest 

 part, between the western bank of the lake of 

 Nicaragua, and the gulph of Papagayo ; but it is 

 formed of uninterrupted savannahs and plains, 

 affording an excellent road for carriages * (ca- 

 mlno ceratero) between the town of Leon, and 

 the coast of Realexo. The lake of Nicaragua 

 is elevated above the South Sea, the height of 

 the whole fall of the Rio San Juan, on a length 

 of 30 leagues ; and the position of this vast basin 

 is so well known in the country, that it was con- 

 sidered heretofore as an invincible obstacle to 



frigates of 32 guns, are almost the same ; the difference of 

 the waste of w^ter in lockages arises from that of the body 

 of water required for filling each lock j the locks being in the 

 Caledonian canal 37 feet broad between the gates, and 160 

 feet long j in the canal of Languedoc 31 feet broad in the 

 middle, 20 feet between the gates, and 127 feet long. We 

 have seen above, that the dimensions of the canal of junction 

 in America may be less than that of the great canal of Scot- 

 land. 



* This is the great road by which merchandize is sent 

 from Guatimala to Leon, embarking in the gulph of Fonseca 

 or Amapala, to Conchagua, port of the Partido of San Miguel. 



