Narratives of voyages and excursions on the east coast and in the interior of Central America; describing a journey up the river San Juan, and passage across the lake of Nicaragua to the city of Leon: pointing out the advantages of a direct commercial intercourse with the natives

Front matter

Class.

v^

NARRATIVE

Chapter I

Want of Information regarding the East Coast, and Interior— Inarras' Imperfect History— Influence of the Romish Church ineffectual in civilizing the Indians^Former compared with their present state

Progress of the late Revolution — The Author's

opportunities of Information 25

Chapter II

Voyage to the Bay of Mandingo — Natives— Trade, &c. — Sarsadee — New Caledonia and Scotch Darien Company — San Bias Indians — Their Manners and Customs — Their enmity to the Spaniards — Women — Sookeati Men — Rivers — Forests — Game — Fish, &c.— Turtle—Tortoise-sheU, &c. ...... 33

Chapter III

Voyage to Chiriqui Lagoon — Porto Bello — Mosquito Shore — Chrico Mola — Residence there — Sarsaparilla— -Excursions in the Interior — Story of a Gold

VI CONTENTS.

FACE

Seeker — Hunting party— View of the Atlantic and Pacific — Visit from a Sloop of War — Character, mid Customs of the Valientes — Soupa Tree — Serpents — Buccaniers— Chilibee, Tiribee, and Blanco Indians 52

Chapter IV

Rio del Oro — Gold Mine— River Belem — Leave Chiriqui and Boco del Toro — Tiribee Indians— Blancos — Trade at Salt Creek — Matina — Cartago — Dreadful Earthquake — Turtle Bight — Natural History — Rio Colorado — River and Harbour of San Juan — Indian River — Vanilla Plant — Rama Indians and River — Bluefields Lagoon — Former English Settlements — Bluefields River — Cookra and Woolwa Indians . 83

Chapter V

Pearl Kays and Lagoon — Oysters — European Settlers— Stores — Traders — Climate, Produce — Rio Grande, or Prinzapulko — Indians and Chief Men — Pine Savannahs — Macaws — Soil — Horses — Iron —Captive Indian Boy — Cruel Expeditions against tlie Cookras — Prinzapulko River and Indians-*- Contracts with the Woolwas — Tongulas — Captain Tai*ra — Brown — Return to Pearl Kay Lagoon . 105

Chapter VI

Admiral Earnee— Tribute— King's Houses— Towka Indians — Para Lagoon — Brancman's Bluff— Savannahs—-Deer— Sandy Bay— Conversations with the Indians— Arrival, Reception, and Character of the Mosquito King— Counsel— Music and Musieal Instruments— History of Don Carlos and Governor Clementi— Soil and Produce— Marl— Pipe Clay— Journey to Cape Gracias a Dios . . . l^-*

CHAPTER VIL

Cape Gracias a Dios-Old King George, the present King— Education at Jamaica— Bad soil— war-

CONTENTS. Vll

PAGF

l)Our Great Cape River — Importance of the Cape

Orio-in of the Samboes — Croatch River — Kuka-

Yi Spotted Indians — Caratasca Lagoon — Fish

and Game — Soil, produce — Crater — Patook River

Horses — Kharibees — Brewers Lagoon — Black

River and Lagoon — Old Fort Settlers — Mines- Fertility of the Settlements — Story of Ian Austin 14^

CHAPTER VIIL

Harbour of San Juan de Nicaragua — Attack by an Independent Cruiser — Taken as a Spy — Trial and Escape— Conduct of the Indians^Ordered to San Carlos — Bongos — The Fort or Battery and Entrances of the Iliver — Manatis — Serapiqui — Commodore Mitchell's Expedition — Islands — Rapids — Alligators — Arrival at the Castle of San Juan — Its present state — Great Rapid— -Former incorrect statements regarding the river 168

CHAPTER IX.

Leave Fort San Juan — Fine timber on the Banks- Village and Fort of San Carlos— Proceedings there —Religious Tracts — Depart for Granada — The Lake of Nicaragua — San Miguel — The Padrones Orisons — Volcanic Island — Land between the Lake and South Sea — Arrival at Granada — Examination and Imprisonment — Base Interpreter- Departure for the City of Leon 189

CHAPTER X.

Massaya — Remarkable Strata of Lava between the Lakes of Leon and Nicaragua — Wheel Carriages — Mules, &c.—Monagua— Hospitality of the Cura— Matares — Mama-Tomba — Mountain road and Game--Nagarotta — Pueblo Nueva — Plain of Leon — Chain of the Andes — Answer to Baron Humboldt—Arrival at Leon — Its vicinity to the South Sea— Story of English Sailors — Final examination and acquittal- Don Allemagne — His valuable

VIU CONTENTS.

trade — City of Leon — Its Houses, &c. — Provisions —Luxurious mode of living — Urbanity of the Go- Temor 207

CHAPTER XL

Departure from Leon— Game, &c.— Pueblo Nuevo

— Monagua ^ Political State of the Country ^

Kindness of Inygoyen — Recross the Lava — Effects of the^ Eruption — Massaya — Colonel Sacassa — Medicine— Indian Procession — Missionaries — Arrival at Granada — Lake and adjacent Country — Earthquakes — Exactions of the Government — Abundance of Provisions— Voyage to San Carlos, &c 227

CHAPTER XIL

Guatemala — Nicaragua — Indians — Population — Hostile Tribes — Lake of Nicaragua — Spanish Posts ^Route by Bluefield's River — Journey of Patterson—Atlantic and Pacific Canal — Necessity of Foreign Labourers — United States Contract fo£ Cutting a Canal — Gold Mines— Passage dovrn the San Juan— Mosquito King's Letter — Indian Daring Plan of Revenge— Arrival at Prinzapulko—

Joy of the Indians 2-18

CHAPTER XIIL

Generous conduct of the Indians— Their account of Lord Nelson's Expedition— Journey to Cape Gracias a Dios — Size and value of Mahogany, &c. — Mosquito men— Cruelty of Barras— King's Token

Voyage to Balize — Racon— Visit to Black River

— Kharibs and KharibBread— Settlements, History and Character of the Khairbees— Poyer Country —Islands of Guanaja—Roatan— Stormy Passage across the Bay of Honduras .....•• 2^*

CONTENTS. IX

CHAPTER XIV.

PAGE

Mosquito CJountry — Its Fitness for European Settlements— Climate, Productions, &c. — Former British Settlements there — Natives, and necessity for affording them Protection — Disputes regarding the Mosquito Shore — Opinion of Mr Edwards — Difficulty of access to the Central States from the East Coast — Route by Omoa to Guatemala — Leave Balize — Taken by Pirates — Escape to Cuba, and Return to England , • . . . 290

PREFACK

Mr Roberts, whose Narrative of Voyages and Adventures is now submitted to the public, went to sea at an early period of life. While a youth in the American merchant service, he visited many parts of India, China, and the Southern Hemisphere. Afterwards he was employed, in the same part of the world, in the squadron under the command of Sir Edward Pellew, now Lord Exmouth; and subsequently, had the good fortune to bring to England the first valuable American ship captured in the South Sea, — dexterously eluding, on that occasion, the pursuit of the American frigate Essex in the Pacific, and baffling, after a long chase in the English Channel, that scourge of the British merchantmen, the True Yankey privateer. Latterly, he was in the command of several valuable merchant vessels ; and possesses many documents beark

XiV PREFACE.

ing testimony to his good conduct and ability as a navigator. The reasons which induced him to visit the West Indies, and to remain for several years, among the Indians on the East Coast of Central America, in the capacity of a trader, are developed in the course of the narrative.

On returning to his native country Mr Roberts was applied to by many highly respectable individuals, proposing, at that speculative period, to carry on certain operations in Central America and on the Isthmus of Darien, for information regarding the present state of that coast, and the dispositions of the native free tribes ; he found, with considerable surprise, that extreme ignorance was not only prevalent on these subjects, but that the topography and real state, of the greater part of that country, especially of many of the important places on the Mosquito Shore, the coast of the Isthmus of Darien, and the Interior, which he had recently visited, were scarcely known.

These circumstances first encouraged him to arrange his materials for the present narrative, w^hich, although in some points deficient, will contribute towards the great mass of valuable information lately diffused regarding the actual state of the New World ; in other respects, it will perhaps not be found unamusing.

By his education, and former visits to

PREFACE. XV

various parts of the world, Mr Roberts had not only been divested of many prejudices and feelings, which would have disqualified some Europeans, from associating with Indians and conforming to their mode of life ; but he had early acquired those habits of observation, and that talent for investigation, which qualified him for giving a fair account of their progress towards a state of civilization.

In contemplating the increasing numbers or present state of the Kharibees, and descendents of those British slaves who remained on the Mosquito Shore when the English left it, we are enabled to draw inferences, very opposite to those of such advocates for the continuance of slavery, who assert that, under the present West India system, the majority of the slaves are more happy, and better provided with the means of subsistence, than they would be if gradually manumitted, and placed in a state of freedom, dependent only on their own exertions ; for, it appears that the persons first alluded to, are not only increasing in numbers, but are, by their own industry, amply provided with all the necessaries, and many of the luxuries of life.

It is perhaps unnecessary to state, in detail, the rapid progress of those discoveries which Columbus had the glory of commencing ; yet it may not be deemed improper, or irrelevant to the subject of the following

XVI PREFACE.

narrative, briefly to notice so much of them as relate to the ancient inhabitants of the East Coast of Central America, and the first attempts made by himself and his successors, to subjugate those Indian tribes whose descendents have been so recently visited, and described by the author.

Columbus having, in the year 1492, reached some of the Lucays, or Bahama Islands, proceeded to Cuba, where the natives gave him such information, as induced him to direct his course towards Hayti, (Hispaniola, or St Domingo), at which island he arrived on the 6th December.

We may here, however transiently, contemplate the delightful picture presented by Columbus's first account of the appearance, happy state, and good conduct of the harmless natives ; w^e could dwell, with pleasure, on their humane and generous conduct to that leader and his adventurous band, when in consequence of the wreck of their principal vessel, they were involved in misfortune and difficulty. * But

♦ " As soon as the Islanders heard of this disaster they crowded to the shore with their Prince Guacanahari at their head. Instead of taking advantage of the distress in which they beheld the Spaniards, to attempt any thing to their detriment, they lamented their misfortune with tears of sincere condolence, — not satisfied with this unavailing expression of their sympathy, they put to sea a number of canoes, and, under the direction of the Spaniards, assisted jn saving whatever could be got out of the wreck, and by the united labour of so many hands, almost every thing of

•PREFACE. XVli

it is painful to be obliged to turn immediately to the dark scene which followed, and behold the sad change, which the arrival of these licentious and rapacious strangers, was destined to create among a million of innocent people ; for in the short space of fifteen years, they w ere reduced to a wretched remnant, consisting of scarcely sixty thousand miserable and heart-broken slaves; and even these, were continually wasting by labour and misery ; so that, in a few years more, they found their only refuge in a premature grave !

On his second voyage, in 1493, Columbus discovered, what are now called the Leeward Islands, inhabited by a very different race of men, who fiercely defended themselves, and made daring attacks upon their invaders.

The third voyage took place in the year 1498; he then discovered the Island now called Trinidad, and the Continent of South America ; but, after proceeding some dis-

value was carried ashore. As fast as the goods were landed, Guacanahari in person took charge of them. By his orders they were all deposited in one place, and armed sentinels were posted, who kept the multitude at a distance in order to prevent them not only from embezzling, but from inspecting too curiously what belonged to their guests. Next morning this Prince visited Columbus, who was now on board the Nigra, and endeavoured to console him for his loss, by offering all that he possessed to repair it,'* — Eobertson's History of America^

XVIU PREFACE.

tance, along that coast, to the westward, he bore away lor Saint Domingo ; and, it was not until his last unhappy voyage, in the year 1502, undertaken in the hope of finding some strait leadino- to the then undiscovered South Sea, that he first explored the East Coast, a description of which, and its inhabitants, is the principal subject of the following narrative.

At Guanaja, an island in the Gulf of Honduras, Columbus first had an interview with the natives of the Mainland. Proceeding to Cape Gracias a Dios, he examined the coast southward from thence to Porto Bello. He attempted to establish a small colony on the River Belem, but had there to contend not only against a more warlike race of people than those of Hayti, but also against the insubordination of his insolent and rapacious followers, and was thus deprived of the honour of planting the first European settlement on the Continent of America.

About ten years afterwards, the King of Spain having allotted the coast between the Gulf of Darien and Cape de Vela, to Alonso de Ojeda, and from thence to Cape Gracias a Dios, to Diego de Nicuessa, both these leaders made preparations for colonizing and securing their new possessions, — the former Supported by a force of three hundred, and the latter by seven hundred and eighty men. But not being able to make

PREFACE. XIX

the natives comprehend by what right or title a foreign priest could dispose of their country, to a king of whom they knew nothing, they not only refused to listen to the Spaniards, or to admit them to settle in their country, but, being attacked, they defended themselves with such resolute bravery, that, notwithstanding the most courageous and persevering efforts, and repeated reinforcements, the Spaniards, w^ith the loss of half their numbers, were compelled to abandon the enterprise. Cortes, Pizzaro and Balboa, commanders afterwards so celebrated, were among the number of volunteers ; but the former, destined for a higher and more successful undertaking, was compelled by sickness to remain at St Domingo. The form which, according to Herrera, was to be observed in taking possession of this country, is too important to be omitted in the present work. *

After a lapse of above three centuries, and the extirpation or conquest, of nearly the whole of the ancient population, it is not only deeply interesting in a physiological point of view, but matter of exultation to every liberal mind, to mark the result of this determined and successful resistance; and we still trace with satisfaction, in the undegenerated San Bias men, Valientes, and other free Indians of the present day, the same feelings and sentiments of inde-

* Note, No. 1.

XX PREFACE.

pendence which animated their courageous ancestors. Farther to the northward we find, in Clementi, a specimen of the ancient Cazique, and in his hill-people, a modification of the more mild and peaceable of the ancient tribes. We can also trace, although under greater modifications, a remnant of the fierce natives of the Leeward Islands, in the resolute free Kharibees f of the Bay of Honduras, and Mosquito Shore, much softened down however, by their intercourse w^ith Europeans, and by a slight intermixture with negroes.

Balboa, by his successful expedition across the Isthmus of Darien, in the year 1512, attracted a great number of adventurers to that part of the continent, under the command of Pedrarias, who, being either unwilling, or unable, to restrain them from the most cruel and tyrannical exactions, the natives inhabiting the country towards the Lake of Nicaragua were almost totally extirpated; and the removal, shortly afterwards, of the Spaniards from Santa Maria on the Gulf of Darien to Panama on the side of the Pacific, completed the subjugation of most of the neighbouring tribes, and opened the way, not only for the future conquerors of Peru, but also for the discovery of the provinces of Nicaragua by Davila in 1522, and the sub-

+ Caraibe, in their original language, is said to signify ** warlike people, "

PREFACE. XXI

sequent foundation of the cities of Cartago, Leon, Nicaragua and Granada. Cortes having, in the mean time, conquered Mexico, sent De Oli and others, in 1523, to what is now denominated the province of Honduras ; and, during the same year, he commissioned Pedro Alvarado, with considerable forces to take possession of Guatemala; so that the Indians of the Central States, were at once assailed both from the north and south.

Alvarado, a brave, politic, and indefati-

fable soldier, after subduing the natives of ^egnantepec, and completing the conquest of Soconusco and Ponala, arrived in the territory of Quichee ; and, after many desperate battles with the natives — the Rachiquels, and other powerful and warlike nations— founded the city of Guatemala in the year 15S4. To enter into an account of the brave defence made by many of these nations, and to trace the progress of the Spanish arms, would lead us into details which, although possessing great interest, are rather foreign to the subject of the following narrative. We must therefore rest contented by observing, that as the Spaniards approached the Mosquito Shore, and the mountainous country between that coast and the Pacific, the determined resistance of the natives, and their aversion to the Spanish yoke, seems to have increased. In the province of Honduras, nearly the whole of which it still possessed

XXll PREFACE.

by the aborigines, the Caziques Copan Calel in 1530, and Lempira in 1536, seem to have defended themselves with a courage and conduct which would have done honour to more enlightened warriors ; and although they ultimately submitted, many of their subjects, as well as those, who had been some time before, driven from St Salvador, by Estete and other sanguinary and avaricious Spanish commanders, sought refuge in the mountains, and in the labyrinths of the coast, handing down to their posterity, that hatred of the Spanish name, which is so carefully cherished even at the present day. The Spaniards seem, from this period, to have given up the idea of pushing their conquests in that quarter ; but, in the year 1608, according to the historian Vasques, attempts w^ere made, by missionaries^ to cob vert and bring the Indians on the north and east coast to acknowledge the Spanish yoke. These missionaries sought the tribes living among the mountains on the upper part of the Bluefields River, and v/ere at first kindly received; but, afterwards, narrowly escaped to Guatemala with their lives, A second expedition, in 1612, escorted by 25 soldiers, was sacrificed in the same quarter by these unruly Neophytes.

In the year 1623, other missionaries visited the country farther to the northward, and, at first, seem to have had hopes of success ; but, ultimately, they also, fell a sacrifice to their

PREFACE. Xxiii

zeal. These seem to be the last serious attempts of the Spaniards, in that quarter, to subjugate the free natives, whose early intercourse with the English and other Europeans, especially the Buccaniers, continually at war with the Spaniards, aided them in maintaining their independence. The friendly intercourse which continued to subsist during the period that the British had settlements on their coast, has strengthened their good opinion, and taught them to rely on us for that protection which it is hoped the British Government will promptly extend to them, should any future emergency render our interference necessary for their preservation.

EDWARD IRVING.

# London, April 1827.

VOYAGES AND ADVENTURES

EAST COAST, AND IN THE INTERIOR OF CENTRAL AMERICA.

Chapter I. Want Of Information Regarding The East

COAST, AND INTERIOR INARRAs' IMPERFECT

HISTORY INFLUENCE OF THE ROMISH CHURCH

INEFFECTUAL IN CIVILIZING THE INDIANS- FORMER COMPARED WITH THEIR PRESENT STATE

PROGRESS OF THE LATE REVOLUTION THE

author's OPPORTUNITIES OF INFORMATION.

Although much valuable information has lately appeared relative to South America, no Eu» ropean traveller has, since the Spanish American revolution, given any account of the country situated between Mexico and Colombia, forming the

B

26 INARRAS' HISTORY.

Indian territory, and the United Proinnces of Central America, nor of the numerous tribes of free Indians in that part of the world, who . continue to detest the Spanish name, and will not admit one of that nation to settle among them. This may in some measure be attributed to the wilful silence of the West Indian traders, who are little inclined to spread information likely to produce competitors for a share of their lucrative trade ; and partly to the want of free access from the East Coast to the interior. It may also be partly owing to some remains of the old Spanish jealousy of strangers — to the compa- 3'atively late period at which the Central Provinces ventui-ed to declare their independence, and the difficulties incident to the first formation of a new govemment ; but, however this maybe, we are still obliged to look for information regarding this part of America to the Buccaneers of some centuries past.

A " Statistical and Commercial History of Guatemala " has indeed appeared, * translated from the Spanish of Don Domingo InaiTas, a native of New Guatemala ; but, although that work contains much valuable information, it is, for the most part, a compilation of ancient records, and, consequently, not of a nature to satisfy the British public ; or, what in this country is always an important point, to guide commercial men in extending their relations. Moreover, Inarras does not seem to know any thing of the Lake of Nicaragua, or the Rio de San Juan ; or to have the least Imowledge of the Indian country and settlements

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE INDIANS. 2T

on the East Coast, although these occupy ahove one half of Central America.

It has heen considered by many, especially by those attached to the Romish church, that the exertions of the Catholic clergy, for humanizing the Indians of Central America, have been eminently successful ; and that, bringing them within the pale of the cJiurch, has ameliorated their condition, expanded their mental and corporeal powers, and, consequently, added to then* earthly comfort and happiness. But when we come dispassionately to examine and consider their actual state at tlie present time, in comparison to what it was reported, even by the Spaniards, to have been at the period of the Conquest, there is too much reason to fear we would find ourselves obliged to pause before adopting that opinion. When we also compare the state of the great majority of the aborigines of the present day, with that of the descendants of those brave tribes who sought shelter on the coast, or defended their possessions there, it becomes a matter of doubt, whether the latter have not, under the tuition of lawless Buccaneers, and licentious free traders, made gi'eater progi-ess in the scale of humanity, or, at all events, retained more of their ancient, moral and physical strength, than the descendants of their less resolute brethren of the Central States, who have enjoyed the tuition of the Roman Catholic priesthood. In considering this question, however, it is not altogether to the peculiar influence which the dogmas of that church are alleged to exercise over the minds of the lower orders, by keeping them in slavish subjection to the declared infallibility of its doctrines, that we must look for an ex-

26 FOIWVIER AND PRESENT STATE

planatioa of this circumstance ; for it may also be considered as fimiishing a proof, if any were necessary, how much more capable of mental exertion are men in a state of freedom, than those who are retained in a state of slavery.

According to the Historians of the Conquest of Guatemala, that country, when fii-st invaded by the Spaniards, under Don Pedro Alvarado, was flourishing and populous, to a degree which, compared with the present small numbers, and wretched condition of the aboiigines, leads the mind to reflect, with astonishment and abhorrence, upon the massacres, cruelties and privations, by which their intrepid, but bigoted "and relentless conquerors, reduced the natives to their present state ; for, instead of an uncultivated and not half peopled country, containing, as at the present day, two or three poor cities, towns and villages, inhabited by a few thousands of Spanish religieuse and Creole descendants of Spanish 'adventurers, with groups of naked and degraded Indians scattered over the face of the country, living in filth and idleness, under the shelter of wretched huts, or travelling in droves, loaded like beasts of burden, on the one hand, — and a comparatively small number of free and independent tribes, remnants of former kingdoms, speaking different languages, scattered along the sea-coast, or among the mountains, on the other — we, at the time of the first invasion, read of no less than thirty different nations of Indians in Central America, congregated in wealthy cities, in a state of prosperity and civilization, their kings and chiefs possessing sumptuous palaces and houses, great riches, and all the apparatus of regular go-

OF THE INDIANS COMPARED. 29

vernments. * According to Torquemada, and the historian Fuentes, one of these ancient cities, namely, Utatlan, the capital of the king of Quiche y was, at the beginning of the sixteenth century, so considerable, that it contained a population probably equal in number to the whole present Indians of Central America; for, to oppose the Spaniards, it alone produced seventy-two thousand fighting men ; and, in proof of its progress in civilization, one of its institutions was a seminary where, under seventy or eighty tutors, live or six thousand youths were maintained and educated at the king's expense.

The dress that the noble Indians wore was of white cotton dyed or stained with different colours, the use of ■which was prohibited to the other ranks. This vestment consisted of a shirt and white breeches, decorated with fringes ; over these was drawn another pair of breeches, reaching to the knees, and ornamented with a species of embroidery. The legs were bare ; the feet protected by sandals, fastened over the instep, and at the heel by thongs of leather ; the sleeves of the shirt were looped above the elbow with a blue or red band ; the hair was worn long, and tressed behind with a cord of the colour used upon the sleeves, and terminating in a tassel, which was a distinction peculiar to the great captains; the waist was girded by piece of cloth of various colours, fastened in a knot before ; over the shoulders was thrown a white mantle, ornamented with figures of birds, lions, and other decorations of cords and fringe. The ears and lower lip were pierced to receive star-shaped pendants of gold or silver. The insignia of office, or dignity, were carried in the hand.— Zwarra 5, pp. 193 and 198.

30 THE author's opportunities

The present town of Santa Cruz del Quiche is said to be founded upon, or near the place where it stood ; but so complete has been the destruction of all the remains of former greatness in this pai't of the world, that the site of many ancient cities, nearly equal in extent to the one mentioned, cannot now be traced, or with any degree of certainty pointed out.

Having, in consequence of the great stagnation in the shipping interests prevalent in the year 1815, visited the Western World, 1 resided upwards of seven yeai's among ih^free tribes scattered along the East Coast, and during that period traded at every settlement between the Gulf of Darien and the Bay of Honduras ; and, in the course of that time, had a good opportunity of observing, and becoming well acquainted with the manners and customs of these people, and of contrasting their present state of civilization, with that of their subjugated brethren, in the Spanish American provinces. How far the late political changes, in that part of the world, will be likely to benefit both, or either of these classes of aborigines, appeal's exceedingly doubtful, especially while the new states continue, under the influence of a church, whose interests are best maintained, by keeping the great body of the people in a state of ignorance ; but, that they may ultimately be raised from their present state of abject degradation, is ardently to be wished by every friend of humanity.

It is necessary to observe, that symptoms ot discontent appeared in Venezuela ; and the foundation of the Spanish American revolution was established there, so early as about the year 1797.

OF INFORMATION, &C. 31

The expedition of the unfortunate Miranda, took place in 1806, and a sanguinary war raged in 1816, while, at the same time, Mexico had become the scene of ferocious contests ; yet the southern part of the kingdom or domain of Guatemala, remained comparatively tranquil, until a much later period ; for, it will be perceived in the course of the following narrative, that, so late as the year 1822, when I crossed the Lake of Nicaragua to the city of Leon, the Spanish authorities were, notwithstanding the declaration of independence, and various revolutionary movements in the city of Guatemala in 1820, still in undisturbed possession of the government of that part of Central America ; yet it was evident, that the mass of the population there, was adverse to the continuance of the Spanish yoke, and they have since joined in throwing it off.

So many writers on the subject of America and the West Indies, have given minute and scientific descriptions, of the various plants, birds and animals, found in that part of the world, that even if I had been capable of entering into proper details on the subject, I should only have wearied the patience of the general reader, without gratifying the lover of natural history, by an exact account of new productions. I shall, therefore, notice only such of the plants, animals, and fishes, as appeared to be of importance, either in a commercial or some other point of view.