Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/230

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176
CHINANDEGA.
[1838.

tention, and on our parting at three for Pueblo Nuevo, this good couple evinced very strongly the warmth of their feelings. At sunset, we reached Pueblo Nuevo; and at dawn rode on for Leon, where we arrived at eight, very much fatigued.

It being Sunday, and finding myself too much exhausted for travel, I took rest, and starting at four the morning following, reached San Antonio by eight, in time for breakfast. Here, also, I found our worthy host, Mr. Bridge, in bed, suffering under a smart attack of calentura,—one not to be talked away. These attacks appear to occur very frequently, occupying about one third of the existence of the residents ; indeed, the term calentura is so indiscriminately applied to all affections of the head, that one is not so much moved by hearing of its presence, and I am satisfied in most cases that it might be overcome by resolution. I never knew it occur to any one but a resident.

After breakfast we moved on to Chinandega. The population of this town is estimated at eight thousand, and deaths by cholera five hundred; general average one and a half per cent.

All the towns are laid out similarly, in the right-angled plan, with streets north, south, east, and west. Probably this system originated by building the streets to correspond with the churches.

In Chinandega, the centre of the town is pretty closely built, but on the outskirts the houses are