The New York Times, July 29, 1858:
SAN SALVADOR.Refusal of an Exequatur to the American Cousul-- Arrival of our Minister to Guatemala--The Volcano of Conchagua-- A View from the Summit--Fears of the Filibusters-- Cost of Labor and Living--Resources of San Salvador
From Our Own Correspondent.
La Union, Wednesday, June 30, 1858.
The Government of the United States has sent a Consul to this place. He has been here some two months, but as yet they have not granted him his exequatur, and from present appearances they will refuse it to him, on the ground that the Government of Nicaragua complain of his acts while residing there during the Walker War.
This has been an unfortunate place for American Consuls, as, of the three sent here at different times, two have died, and one returned home, unable to get an exequatur. It is to be hoped that the fate of the present official will be happier than his predecessors; besides, our Government actually need a representative here, as this port is the most important one on the Central American coast, and the most frequented by American vessels. The English, French, and several other European Governments, have Consuls here.
The steamer Columbus arrived here from Panama on the 25th inst., having on board Mr. Clark, our Minister to Guatemala. While in this place, he took the evidence of parties residing here touching the seizure of an American vessel, and the murder of the Captain, by the crew of a Guatemalan vessel-of-war, during the Fall of 1856...
In my previous letter I spoke of the Volcano of Conchagua, at the foot of which is situated the town of La Union. This volcano rises nearly 5,000 above the waters of the Gulf of Fonseca. The slope is cone-like, although not that perfect cone as is the beautiful Island of Tigre. On the highest peak of Conchagua, and distinctly visible to the naked eye from the streets of La Union, the authorities of the port have erected a telegraph station, from which, by means of signal flags, vessels entering the Gulf of Fonseca are known in the city for hours before they enter the harbor. The sentinel at the flagstaff can, with his glass, descry vessels when they leave the harbor of Realejo, about sixty miles distant.
I recall some time ago, when on board the steamer Columbus, as we were leaving the harbor of Realejo, I saw through the Captain's glass the blue outlines of a mountain, and asked him the name of it. He took the glass, and after looking at it a moment, said: "That is Conchagua. They now know in La Union that the steamer Columbus is approaching," and so it was.
I have often observed, on going to the wharf in the morning, an unusual activity among the workmen in hauling out launches, receiving cargoes, &c. On inquiry I have invariably been answered as follows: Such and such a vessel, consigned to such a house, is beating up the Gulf, and will be here at such an hour, and we are prepared to commence receiving and delivering freight the moment she comes to anchor.
I had heard so much of the magnificent view to be obtained from the summit of Conchagua that I determined to make the ascent. So, about a fortnight ago, accompanied by two others, merchants of this place, one a native of the country,--still neither had ever ascended the mountain,--we climbed to the top of the volcano. I will describe to you our tour, which, although pursued under difficulties, amply repaid us for our labor.
The little Indian village of Conchagua, containing some five hundred inhabitants, is situated about one-third the distance up the mountain, and about five miles from La Union.
We had arranged to take breakfast at that village, and after procuring a guide there, to make the ascent in time to reach the summit easily by noon, we left La Union about sunrise, mounted on sure-footed animals; the air was cool, and our road lay through a narrow gorge in the mountain, in which the rays of the sun, even at noon-day, could scarcely penetrate. We were continuously ascending and descending deep ravines, until we arrived, after a ride of nearly two hours, at Conchagua.
This village struck us as different from anything we had ever before seen. A broad plaza, with its church more than a century old, as shown from an inscription over the principal entrance; its town-hall, its Cobildo, and other buildings adjacent, and the thatched cottages of the inhabitants perched among the rocks and along the sides of the numerous mountain streams that rushed through the ravine, give it a certain wild and peculiar appearance, unlike any other place I have seen in all Central America.
We crossed the Plaza and rode to the house of the Alcalde, where we had bespoke a breakfast. And such a breakfast! And such hungry men to eat it too, really made the old Alcalde's dark eyes dance for joy.
To show you the resources of this country for supplying all the necessities as well as the luxuries of life, all their own production too, I will describe this breakfast. Our table, covered with a snow-white cloth, was placed in front of the Alcalde's house under an orange tree, on the banks of a narrow but noisy stream. Although there was but three in our party, the table was loaded with a supply sufficient for at least ten hungry men. We sat down.
There were oysters roasted, fried and in the--shell, I was going to say, but they were all taken out of the shell, and floated in a large wooden bowl. We had fresh eggs, (eggs are always fresh here,) fried, boiled and poached; fish, at least three varieties from the Gulf of Fonseca; chickens, broiled and stewed; tenderloin of beef boiled [broiled?], and, in the way of vegetables, we had frijoles, plantains, and some whose name I cannot now recollect; and above all, the king-dish to my taste, a salad of aguacate, which is known through all tropical countries under the name of the alligator pear, vegetable butter, vegetable marrow, &c. The above-named vegetable is cultivated by the Indians of Conchagua, and is esteemed superior to that raised in any other part of the country. Besides all that, in a large basket placed at the foot of the tree were a few of the fruits of the country, such as oranges, sweet lemons, pineapples, zapote, or momey apple, and a few others.
I will never forget this breakfast; its abundance and variety was astonishing. But what was still more astonishing was the price charged. For all that feast only three reals each, about thirty-six cents American currency, and the Alcalde acted as if he felt himself well paid, too.
Still, when you calculate the cheapness of the articles of daily consumption here, it does not seem so astounding after all. For instance, the articles of oysters and fish. The Bay of Fonseca appears to be one immense oyster-bed, and fish are so numerous that they are caught with the most simple device. Oysters sell at a half real (six cents) per bushel, and a real will buy enough fish to supply a large family with a sufficiency for one day's consumption. Then beef is only 5 cents per pound, chickens 6 cents each, and vegetables of all kinds, and fruits, so cheap that they may almost be had for the asking.
...Here, although the laborer receives but about 20 cents a day, he can, by working three months, earn enough to live in luxury for the balance of the year, and it is to be regretted that too many act upon that principle. It seems an impossibility to hire men to work when they have a few dollars ahead.
To resume my account of our journey up the mountain:
We left Conchagua about 9 o'clock, and after much rough riding for a distance of some three miles, we emerged from the woody ravines through which we had been traveling, and came out in an open plain, and before us, stretching up some 2,000 feet, was the summit of Conchagua, with its flag-staff, and flag flying, indicating that a vessel was entering the harbor.
Now came the most difficult part of our journey; although the road was tolerably clear of rocks, the ascent was practicable, and so, like ships at sea beating against a head-wind, we turned, and tacked, and beat about until, after two hours' hard labor, we at last reached the flag-staff on the summit of the mountain; but, to our great chagrin, when we arrived there, nothing could be seen--an impenetrable veil rested over the mountain.
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