62 
DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. IV.—B. S. 
its way even further south than Nicaragua. I fancy 
that a delicious and very wholesome fruit, as large 
as a good-sized apple, and much cultivated here, was 
introduced by the same agency. It is called by the 
people Matasana, and by botanists Casimiroa edulis; 
and it would doubtless thrive in Australia and southern 
England, as I found it also in the higher mountains 
of northern Mexico. Seeds of it were sent to Mr. 
Bull’s Nursery, at Chelsea, where young plants are 
now to be procured. 
The town of Ocotal is built on a plain between two 
rivers, Coco and Depilto. It was founded about eighty 
years ago by Colonel Irias. A long time ago Ciudad 
Vieja was the capital of this department, but that was 
destroyed by the buccaneers, and the capital was then 
shifted to Ciudad Antigua, but even that was twice 
sacked by the pirates, who found their way here from 
the Atlantic seaboard. Division then took place 
amongst the leading families, some of them, the La- 
cayos, Montealegres, etc., went to Leon and Granada, 
some remained behind and founded Ocotal; while 
again, others emigrated to the neighbouring state of 
Honduras. This piece of historical information was 
given to me by one of u the oldest inhabitants,” and 
he begged me not to forget putting it down in my 
book, so that Europe might be enlightened on a 
subject of such importance. 
Ocotal is little better than a village, with a church 
of some pretension commenced years ago, but, as yet, 
unfinished; a town-hall and prison in the course of 
construction, and some elementary schools, where the 
