50 J INOTEPET — CLIMATE. Book I. 
stricted local character, extending scarcely beyond the 
base of the mountain. While riding over the plain, the 
fata morgana produced the aspect of an extended lake with 
numerous wooded islands, — a charming and unexpected 
view. 
The situation of Jinotepet, at the western extremity of 
the plain, and separated from it only by a little valley 
where trees re-appear, is on the highest elevation of the 
flat swell above-mentioned. At a little distance only from 
the village are the springs of several brooks flowing to the 
Pacific. They have a rapid fall, passing through narrow 
gorges, overgrown with forests of mighty trees. The dis- 
tance from Jinotepet to the Pacific, however, is about the 
same as that to Granada. Some maps, which place this 
village close to the sea-coast, are defective in this respect. 
By its elevation above the sea Jinotepet has a cool and 
bracing climate. Early in the morning I found the air so 
sharp, that I regretted to have no gloves with me. This 
place, most likely, is as healthy as any on the face of the 
globe. The census made in 1847 gives 4650 inhabitants, 
with 255 births, and 83 deaths ; and reports a mean tem- 
perature of 15° Reaumur, from which, according to the 
general equality of the climate of Central- America, the 
extremes can be but slightly deviating. The inhabitants 
of the village, who are almost exclusively Indians, are a 
very industrious race. They are the principal sugar- 
growers in Nicaragua, and all around, during my visit, I 
heard the rattling noise of their trapiches, or primitive 
sugar-mills, turned by mules. The cultivation of the 
coffee, too, had been lately introduced at Jinotepet, and 
there is no doubt that the situation and climate are well 
adapted for the purpose. A considerable stock of cattle is 
kept on some farms of this neighbourhood. The census of 
