154 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
clothes. This phenomenon added a peculiar interest; the lake 
seemed a huge cauldron, steaming over an invisible furnace, 
the surrounding craters serving as flues or chimneys. 
We passed along down to Matares, a small town situated on 
an eminence overlooking the lake, and inhabited by descendants 
of the African race. We breakfasted on chickens, frijoles , tor- 
tillos , eggs, &c., and after an hour’s detention started for Mana¬ 
gua. We passed through a delightful region of country, the 
soil, in many places, highly cultivated, bearing the impress of 
thrift and industry, I had not before seen in the country. Fruits 
grow in abundance, cattle had an unlimited range, and were 
the finest I ever saw; the country was broken, the mountains 
towering up to the clouds, and some covered with perpetual 
snow; but at their base were vales watered by mountain 
rivulets, and shaded by groves of orange and fig, seeming a 
retreat fit for the angels. 
Night overtook us, and we encamped on the bank of the lake; 
starting early in the morning we descended a hill, being the 
immediate bank of the lake, and at sunrise arrived at Managua, 
which is situated at the foot of the lake. We breakfasted with 
Don Jose Maria Rivas. He was a man of much intelligence, 
and seemed to feel a lively interest in the affairs of the United 
States, as well as those of his own country. He alluded to Gen¬ 
eral Taylor’s career, and spoke of his death as a national calamity. 
We could not prevail upon him to accept remuneration for our 
breakfast, but pressed it upon a member of the famity. We 
hope we may some day have the honor of serving the worthy 
Don at our own board. 
After a detention of two hours, we were again under way, 
passing through a most delighful country, with highly cultivated 
plantations, watered by rivulets running from the mountains. 
We passed along on the margin of the stream which connects 
Lake Leon with Lake Nicaragua, running in the direction of the 
latter. After a fatiguing day’s march night overtook us, and 
our driver verjr considerately got the cart fast in another mud- 
hole. We encamped, and soon had the satisfaction of hearing 
the rumbling of distant thunder, and soon were wet to the 
skin. In the morning at sunrise we were at Nindaree; soon 
after leaving this town we came to what appeared the ruins of 
