PLAIN OF LEON-VOLCANIC RANGE OF MARABIOS.

Granada, until its almost total destruction by General Henningsen in 1857, stood next to Leon in size and importance. It was founded by Hernandez de Cordova in 1522, on the site of the aboriginal town of Saltaba or Jaltava, about half a mile distant from Lake Nicaragua, on a little bay which there bends its crescent into the land so as to afford a comparative shelter from the constant and often severe northeast winds. At the time of the Spanish Conquest the country around Granada, in the language of Las Casas, "was one of the best peopled in all America," and was rich in agricultural products, among which the cacao or chocolate-nut had the most value, and soon came to constitute an important article of export. In later times, the facilities which it possessed for communication with both the Atlantic and Pacific made it the centre of a large commerce. It carried on a direct trade with Guatemala, Honduras, and San Salvador, as also with Peru, Panama, Carthagena, and Spain. The old English friar, Gage, tells us that at the time of his visit in 1665, "there entered the city, in a single day, not less than 1800 mules from San

Salvador and Honduras alone, laden with indigo, cochineal, and hides. Two days after, there came in 900 more mules, one third of which were laden with silver, being the king's tribute." In 1854 Granada contained a population of from 12,000 to 15,000 souls, including the suburb and separate municipality of Jalteva. It had seven churches, a hospital, and nominally a University. Up to that period it had suffered far less from violence than its political rival Leon. But in a fatal hour some of its citizens became ambitious of political and military power and distinction, and succeeded in placing one of their own number, Don Fruto Chamorro, in the post of Director of the State. The means by which this was effected were somewhat equivocal, and were followed by others of still more doubtful expediency. They resulted in a revolutionary movement and a civil war, during which Granada sustained a siege of ten months, from May, 1854, to March, 1855. The city suffered greatly, but preserved its general features unimpaired until utterly destroyed by General Henningsen on the occasion of his memorable defense and retreat, in March, 1857. It is said that with the restoration of peace a great part of the inhabitants have returned, who are slowly rebuilding the town; but, situated on one side of the modern avenues of travel and trade, it is doubtful if Granada will ever rise to its former relative importance; at any rate, it has sustained a blow from which it is not likely to recover during the present century.*

The position of Granada was so low, and its houses were so overshadowed with trees, that no general view was possible. That which is here presented was taken from the west, and conveys a very good idea of the suburbs, where the houses, however, were mean and straggling. It shows in the foreground a deep ravine, which seems to be a chasm rent originally by an earthquake, and afterward deepened by the action of water. It extends around the city on three sides, and constitutes a natural defense of no insignificant importance. In most places it is from forty to eighty feet deep, with precipitous sides.

Masaya is one of the principal towns of Nicaragua, ranking next only to Leon in respect of population. It is inhabited almost exclusively by Indians, who are distinguished for their industry and skill in the mechanic arts. They have not only extensive plantations, spreading for several miles around the town, but are also largely occupied in the manufacture of hats of palm leaf, petates or mats, and cordage of pita (agave), albardas (saddles), shoes, and other articles of common use. They have also several expert workers in gold and silver. They retain many of their aboriginal customs, and among others that of the tianguez, or daily fair or market. It takes place an hour before sunset, when the venders of all varieties of wares, fruits, meats, etc., etc., throng to the Plaza or principal square, and spread out their various articles for sale. Nothing can exceed the animation of the scene. The population of the town and its suburbs has been variously estimated from 14,000 to 18,000. The Lake of Masaya and the volcano of the same name are natural features of an unusual and interesting character. The former is of volcanic origin, shut in on all sides by perpendicular cliffs, which are descended with difficulty and danger by narrow paths half cut in the rock. It is without outlet, and the surface of the water is 480 feet below the general level of the country. The supply of water for Masaya and the neighboring villages is drawn from this lake, whence it is painfully carried up by women, in jars placed on their heads or lashed on their backs. The volcano of Masaya, which rises on the western borders of the lake, into which it has more than once poured a burning flood of lava, is broad and low, and bears unmistakable signs of recent activity. At the period of the Conquest, and for many years after, it

LAKE OF MASAYA.

was in a state of constant eruption, and was called El Infierno de Masaya. The latest eruption took place in 1670, when a vast flood of lava was poured out on its northern side, which reached nearly to the lake of Managua, twenty miles distant. The camino real, or main road from Granada to Leon, passes over this lava-field, which can only be compared to a vast, irregu lar bed of cast iron just cooled, or to an ocean of ink suddenly con

In places the lava is rolled

up in black, frowning masses; elsewhere it is piled up, flake on flake, like ice in the spring-time on the banks of our northern rivers. Here and there broad, ragged sheets have been turned completely over, as if cooled on the surface while the molten current flowed below, exposing a regular striated face, resembling the curling fibres of the oak or maple.

Managua, as already stated, owing to the irreconcilable jealousies of Leon and Granada, has been for a long period the nominal capital of the republic. In other words, the legislative chambers have been accustomed to meet here, but the officers and archives of the government have generally remained at the ancient