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Doc. No. 75. 



then an enterprising merchant, took a schooner of fifty-two tons 

 through the river San Juan into the lake, by removing the keel and 

 warping the whole distance, which he accomplished in twenty-two days. 

 He tells me that the vessel drew three feet six inches while ascending 

 tlie river, but with the keel replaced, and loaded seven feet; and that she 

 was unable to approach within two and a half miles of the river during 

 the dry season — the bongos" receiving their cargoes from the vessel at 

 that distance from the shore. 



I pass over the route from Lake Nicaragua to San Juan of the South, 

 as, in my opinion, an impracticable one; since, notwithstanding the short 

 distance of fifteen miles, the intervening country is very elevated, rocky, 

 and precipitous. The harbor of " San Juan del Sur" is small and unsafe, 

 and the gulf of Palagago at all seasons exposed to violent winds. 



Taking the route via Leon, or Managua, and assuming the distance be- 

 tween the two lakes through river Zipetapa" (more properly an inlet) to 

 be fourteen miles, about ten of these are navigable, Avith a wide channel 

 and ten feet or more water, to Pasquiel, a cattle estate of Frederic Derby- 

 shire, esq., of Grenada. Beyond this place even small canoes cannot 

 penetrate. Innumerable large though isolated rocks fill the bed of the 

 former river, now dry, except a small rill slowly flowing from ponds 

 above. From Paso Chico," one and a half mile from Pasquiel, the 

 rock (a conglomerate of pebble and limestone) becomes solid to Lake 

 Managua. At Tipitapa, a little village upon the border of the lake, occurs 

 a break of fifteen feet in the bed of the stream, over which the waters 

 from the lake formerly fell, but these have materially diminished within 

 the past three or four years — from what cause, except unusually dry win- 

 ters, it is unknown — and at present no water escapes by this course. 



The lake of Nicaragua is navigable for steam and other boats. The 

 distance across to Moabita from Tipitapa is about thirty miles. From 

 this point, in a direct line, there are about fifteen miles to El Polron," 

 an estate situated upon a navigable creek, flowing into Realejo harbor, 

 distant about eight miles. From the same point to El Tamarindo," 

 also an estate upon a navigable creek, there are nine miles, and thence 

 to the port of the same name about five miles. This port, though not so 

 commodious as Realejo harbor, is safe, and Knglish vessels annually land 

 Brazil wood there. The country between Lake Managua and Realejo, or 

 Tamarindo, is a very gentle and gradual slope. 



The above memoranda are the result of my personal observations; and, 

 however incomplete, 1 trust you will be pleased to accept them, and to be- 

 lieve me, 



With much respect, your obedient servant, 



D. TILDEN BROWN. 



To the Hon. E. Geo. Sq,uier, 



(/, S. Charge p etc.^ San Juan de Nicaragua, 



I 



