Chap. V. VOLCANIC CHAIN OF THE MAKIBIOS. 69 
Gregorio Juares, and of the American consul, Dr. Living- 
ston. The latter showed me some samples of coal from 
the neighbourhood of Leon. They were of a greyish black 
colour, rather hard, with the texture of wood clearly 
visible. On being burnt, a considerable quantity of ashes 
were left, in some cases of a white, in others of a red 
colour. In the state of Salvador this tertiary coal forma- 
tion seems to have a sufficient development to promise a 
certain degree of future importance. 
On the following day I proceeded to Pueblo Nuevo, 
where I passed the night. From Mateares this is only 
a distance of thirty miles or a little more. The road, 
between Mateares and Nagarote, a village halfway to 
Pueblo Nuevo, is most interesting and has some charming 
sections. For a time it leads along under the shade of 
gigantic trees, while the eye passes over the lake and rests 
on the mountains of Matagalpa and the peaks of the 
Maribios, beginning with the island of Momotombito visited 
by Mr. Squier, who has described its idols. Next comes 
the noble cone of the Momotombo, about 7000 feet high. 
From its summit a thin cloud of steam rises, scarcely 
traceable in the pure atmosphere. Farther on, the 
Asososca, or, more correctly spelled, the Axosco, is seen. 
Mr. Buschmann thinks that this name can be derived from 
the Aztec ak, meaning water, and xotla, signifying to 
'kindle or burn, the whole word Axochco having the signifi- 
cation of a "volcano of water," like the "volcan de agua" 
of Guatemala. Then follow the Pilas, the Orota, and the 
Telica, the Santa Clara and the Viejo, which complete the 
enumeration of the whole system, but are concealed from 
the view. At certain places the road, still following the 
shore of the lake, passes over small tracts of loose sand, 
