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CHAPTER XII. 
DEPARTURE OR AUTHOR FOR PANAMA.-RETURN TO NICARAGUA.- 
LA MERCED.-NATURAL PRODUCTS OP THE COUNTRY.—THE 
JAVALI AGAIN.—OPENING UP ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC.-A NOC¬ 
TURNAL PETE.—TWO DYING-OUT RACES.-RETURN TO ENGLAND. 
Leaving Panama on the 22nd of June, 1865,1 reached 
Southampton on the 12th of July, and, after a short 
rest, returned once more to Nicaragua, in order to 
take possession of the mine I had bought. I made 
the best of my way to Granada, and thence crossing 
Lake Nicaragua in the American steamer, landed 
at San ITbaldo, where Don Lucas Quiroz, the vendor 
of the property, had mules waiting to convey me to 
his estate of La Merced. Don Lucas was busy mark¬ 
ing the young cattle, a task which, on these large 
estates, takes some time, as the cattle rove about the 
plains and have to he driven into the yards by a num¬ 
ber of men mounted on swift horses. It was quite an 
exciting scene when a fresh batch—about 100 at a 
time—arrived, the men shouting, gesticulating, swing¬ 
ing their lassos, and galloping furiously to keep the 
o 
