Guatimala is more visited by earthquakes, and abounds more in volcanos, than any other portion of the American continent. The volcanos are, in ge neral, in a state of eruption ; bet, when the eruptions are suspended in any of them, the inhabitants consi der it an indication of earthquakes, and usually find themselves soon afflicted by those visitations.
The climate, on the eastern side of Guatimale, is generally unhealthy ; the inhabitants are much afflict ed with intermittent and bilious fevers, and very much subject to fluxes ; but, on the coast of the South Sea, the climate is more salubrious ; as, indeed, is is throughout the whole extent of' America. On the toasts of Gaatimala, in the Pacific Ocean, they are subject to continual storms of wind, accompanied with deluges of rain, in the months of August, Sep• umber, and October ; and, in January and February, they are visited by most tremendous hurricanes from the north-east, and from the east-north-east. The humidity of the atmosphere, during the first of those periods, is not considered injurious to health ; but that, and the tempedb in the latter period, alike render the coasts inaccessible, or at least highly peril ous, to all shipping.
Costa-nest, the southernmost province of Gnati male, adjoins the province of Veragua, in the vice royalty of New Granada ; it is about 150 miles in length, and in breadth about 140 miles. It derived its name from the rich mines which the first disco verers imagined to exist in it, but their expecta tions have not been realized. Some gold is found, but only by washing the sands in the mountain tor rents. A very rich silver mine, called Tisingal, is worked, though, from the scarcity of labourers, the want of capital felt by the adventurers, and the in hospitable country in which it is situated, its product is but small. It is, however, reported to be equal in richness of ore, and in extent of veins, to the ce lebrated mine of Potosi in Peru, but the sanguine reports of the proprietors have been insufficient to draw to it the requisite capital and labour.
The whole province is mountainous, and covered is most parts with thick forests, and its agriculture is very inconsiderable. The far greater portion of the inhabitants are the Indian tribes, who, though subject to Spain, and reduced under her religion, live is their own towns under the government of the native chit.* who ecoonat to the Alcaldi, appoint edtloy the the tribute etaceed from them, and for their obedience to the laws.
Cartage, the capital of the provinee) is called a city, but though the residence of the governor, and a bishop's see, it does not now contain, from having much declined of late, more than two thousand souls. It. is distant from the Carribean Sea, and from the port of the same name, about thirty miles. A very inconsiderable trade is carried on by small craft with Chagre and Portobello ; its exports con sist partly of dried meat and hides, and some honey and bees'-wax, the latter of which are produced in large quantities. Nicoya, the only other town, is
near the Pacific Ocean in a bay of that name. It is more populous and more healthy than Cartago, and carries on a coasting trade with Panama, to which place it sends wheat, maize, salt, honey, wax, and some cocoa, and receives in return the few produc tions of Europe which it demands.
Nicaragua, the next province to Costierica, is ex tended along the Pacific Ocean, approaching only to the Carrihean Sea, or a small part of its eastern extremity. The most remarkable feature of this province is the beautiful lake, which occupies a large portion of its western side. The lake of Ni caragua is about two • hundred miles in length, and one hundred and sixty in breadth at the middle, which is the widest part. The depth of water is ge nerally about forty fathoms. It is interspersed with some beautiful islands, and its navigation affords great facilities to the communication between differ ent parts of the province. This lake is worthy of notice, as being, perhaps, the easiest way by which a communication could be opened between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean ; a communica tion by which the intercourse and commerce of Eu rope with the western side of Adierica, and eith Asia, would be greatly facilitated. This project has often been contemplated, but, probably for political reasons, has not been put in execution, by Spain, the only power that could effect h. By the river St Juan, which runs into the Carribean Sea, vessels drawing eight or nine feet water frequently pass from the lake of Nicaragua to Chagre, to Portobel lo, and to Port Omoa. It is indeed only during the rainy season that vessels of such a draft can pass, but it is at all times navigable by canoes and large boats. Towards the latter part of the American war, Ge neral Dalling, then Governor of Jamaica, equipped an expedition for the purpose of taking possession of the entrance to this lake. Two men, afterwards distinguished, though in very different ways, were employed in it. Nelson, the great commander, then a lieutenant, was with the naval part, and Colonel Despard, afterwards executed for a silly but trea sonable plot, conducted the land forces. They had considerable aid from some of the Musquito Indians, who, as soon as they had entered the river St Juan, assisted in tracking the boats in which the troops and stores were embarked. Having ascend• ed about seventy miles, the expedition was interrupt ed by the fbrt of St Bartholomew, which, however, after some opposition, was taken. As they proceed ed, the rain being incessant, the men became sickly, and a flux destroyed several. The great number of Indiana that accompanied the expedition, though useful as guides and as towers, were found an in cumbrance when provisions began to grow scarce.