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those strangers to me; and where a single good seed has taken root, I will not condemn a nation for private wrongs or private prejudices.

There can be found in Granada, almost every thing desired. Clothes are dearer than in the United States. Cloths at a very moderate figure, looser in the web than ours, having been manufactured expressly for this market, and are both cooler and more elastic. Socks, shirtings, &c., are plentiful, but far from cheap. Medicines are dear, fruits cheap. Lawyers are abundant, and must be well and frequently fee'd. This is a co-relative of other civilized nations; and those who go often to the Forum will learn, at least, many of the ways, if at all attentive and cute, by which living is made easy in a few lessons.

As a general thing, physic is not in much repute, save in slight cases of fever, cold, and other minor diseases. Travelers will eat and drink immoderately, or expose themselves at night or mid-day, either of which are equally injudicious; they then upbraid the climate, and neglect to call folly by its right name; but not to do that would be consistent, and inconsistency consists in being consistent so far as affects our desires or appetites. Then we can afford to grumble and revile a country, generous in its pleasures, and gentle in reproofs. Were foreigners to care for themselves and guard against changes and seasons as they do when at home, a resi

dence in Nicaragua would prove beneficial to many who are now feeding young apothecaries, and who are emptying box after box of some patent vegetable vermifuge, or new-fangled elixir, which robs us of the little stomach that fast living at home leaves many of us at thirty years of age.

CHAPTER VIII.

RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS-ST. JAMES' DAY-SAN IGNATIUS DE LOYOLA-TRANSIT OF THE VIRGIN-THE CORPUS-ST. PETER AND THE HOLY KEYS-IMAGES

BANTA THERESA-COCHINEAL PLANTATIONS-MODE OF CULTURE AND PREPABATION OF IT FOR MARKET-COFFEE-ITS CULTIVATION-SUGAR-INDIGOAMOUNT OF HARVEST-TOBACCO-AMOUNT RAISED PROFITS-GUNPOWDER AND OTHER GOVERNMENT MONOPOLIES-ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE-ARTIFICERS IN GOLD AND SILVER-OPPOSITE

GRANADA-CATTLE ESTATES

CATCHING CATTLE-THE PETA-HUIJA-FIGS AND OLIVES-A HINT.

It would be an almost hopeless task to properly describe the many religious festivals of the people of this country. I entered some of the "occasions," however, in my Diary, which were new to me, and may be of interest to the reader. St. Iago, or St. James, is the patron saint of the Americas, as also of Gallicia, in Spain; and on this day, July 26th, all the shops are closed. He drove out the Moors from Gallicia, tradition says, appearing on a white horse before the armies of the Christian. The celebration of the feast of San Igna

tius de Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order, is upon the 30th day of July. The altar is dressed with artificial flowers, and on this the image of the founder is placed. August 13th is the celebration of the Transit of the Virgin. In every house an altar is erected in the sala or parlor, and recitations are performed from three to four in the afternoon. Upon a cushion, covered with gold lace and spangles, lies the image of the dead Virgin. She is clothed in gold and spangles; prayers are recited to her before the image, and two waxen candles are kept burning, in silver candlesticks, though sometimes brass or glass is used. This altar is to be illuminated for fifteen successive nights; and in addition to the prayers already named, others are said every night at eight o'clock.

The Corpus, which takes place in June, is, however, the most remarkable, and of course all business is suspended. About ten in the morning, a cavalcade moves from the church. A troop of military, with funereal measure, leads the way, who are followed by six girls, fancifully dressed, bearing large wax candles, and accompanied by the "big drum," borne on the back of a grotesquely-accoutred Indian, and beaten by two others. Then follow men with wooden platforms on their shoulders, on which are images of saints. Then, representations of beatified cardinals and bishops, escorted by angels with spread wings. Then, an immense statue of St. Peter, supported on both sides by angels, bearing the holy

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keys. Then other images in succession precede the Host, which is carried under a gorgeous canopy, accompanied Other groups still follow; the

by the bishop and clergy. military bringing up the rear. Passing round the plaza, the procession stops at every corner, where altars are erected, covered with artificial flowers, wax candles, and lookingglasses, while the spectators kneel on either side.

Sky-rockets

signal the setting out from and return to the church, and the houses by which the Host passes are hung with red silk or cloth. As in all Spanish and Catholic countries, images are much venerated. At Viejo, near Leon, is one of the Virgin, which is visited on a particular day in February. It is traditioned as being the gift of the Immaculate Virgin, Santa Theresa.

We had intended to add a few more particulars relative to the productions of this State, as well as to notice those of States adjoining, for the products of all are similar. The nopaleras, or cochineal plantations of Nicaragua, have dwindled into insignificance; but there are still small tracts in many haciendas which are given to the cultivation of this article. A piece of ground is carefully fenced in with parallel rows of prickly pear, the cactus cochinillifer, or common Indian fig. Immediately after the rains have ceased, the cactus, an insect, is sown upon the plant. Twelve of these are collected with a feather, from the parent, enclosed all together in a small