[XXVII-23] That is the civilized region. There is, besides, a wild portion comprising about 24,000 geographical miles. Lévy, Nic., 372.
[XXVII-24] In the absence of the prefecto the first alcalde of the head town acts in his place ad int., with the full pay of the office. Nic., Acuerdos y Dec., 1857-8, 70-8, 203-5; Rocha, Cód. Nic., i. 58-77, 145-8, 195-6; ii. 5-20; Nic., Boletin Ofic., Apr. 16, 1856; Feb. 8 to Nov. 15, passim, 1862; Id., Gaceta, March 5, 1864; Id., Informe Gobern., 1863-83.
[XXVII-25] The corporations are formed, according to the importance of the locality, with one or two alcaldes, and their respective suplentes, regidores, one secretary, one síndico, and the agricultural judge, all serving without pay. The prefecto controls the municipal affairs of his whole department, and especially those of the chief town. He presides ex-officio over all the municipalities, and in case of a tie has a casting vote. He cannot be accused except before the senate, and is consequently a petty president in his department. Lévy, Nic., 331-5.
[XXVII-26] It was made a city in 1846, and special ordinances were provided for it from time to time. Rocha, Cód. Nic., i. 148; Sandoval, Rev. Polít., 58; Nic., Registro Ofic., 342; Id., Dec. y Acuerdos, 1863, 2, 46, 118-19; Id., Dec. y Acuerdos de la Junta, 12-13, 145-8.
[XXVII-27] It has been greatly damaged by military operations, but never burned down, like Granada.
[XXVII-28] Leon was connected in 1881 with Corinto by rail; and the line has been afterward extended to Leon Viejo, on Lake Managua, and thence to Granada. Notable places in the department of Leon are Telica, birthplace of Miguel Larreyuaga, an oidor of the last Spanish audiencia, or superior court of judicature, who drew up the declaration of independence; El Sáuce, Santa Rosa, El Jicaral or San Buenaventura, and San Nicolas.
[XXVII-29] Granada has a good commercial position on the N. W. end of Lake Nicaragua, and at the foot of the Mombacho volcano. It was burned by pirates in 1665, nearly ruined by the freebooters in 1670, the raiders having come on both occasions by the San Juan River and the lake; and a third time destroyed by fire in 1685, the work of pirates who landed at Escalante on the Pacific. In 1844 it was greatly damaged by earthquakes. In 1856 it was burned by William Walker, the filibuster. But it has risen from its ashes, and become prosperous. The city is irregular in its construction, the streets not being straight or rectangular. They are mostly unpaved, and generally in a bad condition. The city obtains water for consumption from the lake, distant about a mile, brought by men on their shoulders; and its food supplies, not from the surrounding fields, but from numerous Indian pueblos on the S. E. Masaya was an Indian town, but raised to the rank of a city in 1839. Rocha, Cód. Nic., i. 148. It is supplied with water from the deep lagoon south of and near the city. There were women who for 80 cents monthly supplied two large jars of water every day. A steam-pump was put up in 1872 to raise the water of the lake to the plaza. There is no building worthy of mention in the place. Other notable towns in the department of Granada are Nandaimé, Jinotepe, San Rafael de la Costa, Diriomo, Tipitapa, Nindirí, and Zapatera Island. The towns of San Cárlos and El Castillo, on the San Juan, belong to the same department, though governed in a special manner. San Juan del Norte, alias Greytown, has little importance now; its houses are of wood and palm-thatched. Rivas bore the name of Nicaragua till the early part of the present century. The city has suffered greatly from earthquakes, particularly in 1844. It was partially destroyed during the Walker war. A real curiosity in the department of Rivas is the island of Ometepe in the lake, having two towns, the Pueblo Grande, or villa de Altagracia, and the Moyogalpa, united by a good wagon road. Chinandega is one of the most beautiful spots in Nic. It is a perfect garden. In the wild or uncivilized portion of the territory lies the Mosquito region, whose chief town is Blewfields, having two wooden buildings; the rest being mere huts. Lévy, Nic., 373-90; Laferrière, De Paris á Guatém., 73-6; Saravia, Bosq. Polít. Estadist., 10-11; Marure, Bosq. Hist. Cent. Am., 153-4; Froebel's Cent. Am., 19, 29-47, 62-75, 92-104; Froebel, Aus Amerika, i. 250-80, 311-17, 350-4; Squier's Trav., i. 138-40, 146-50, 211-15, 258-67, 339, 353-6, 365; Squier's Cent. Am., 346-7, 356-9, 366-76; Squier's Nic., 646; Belly, Nic., i. 196-9, 212, 225-9, 249; Stillman's Golden Fleece, 206-8; Dunlop's Cent. Am., 6-8; Stout's Nic., 27-9, 41-5, 98-100, 156-64; Baily's Cent. Am., 117-18; Bates' Cent. Am., 131-2; Marr, Cent. Am., i. 158-9, 165-71, 228-30; Boyle's Ride, i. 13, 83-91; ii. 8; Reichardt, Nic., 6-18, 20-7, 59, 62-3, 71-2, 81-9, 105-6, 129-31, 134, 155-9, 165-9, 231; Wells' Hond., 39, 42, 72-4.
[XXVII-30] Hond. is therefore betw. 13° 10' and 16° lat. N., and within 83° 20' and 89° 30' long. W. Squier's Cent. Am., 68; Encyclop. Brit., xii. 133. Between 13° 10' and 16° 5' N. lat., and within 83° 12' and 89° 47' W. long. Am. Cyclop., viii. 787.
[XXVII-31] The towns have their municipal corporations, whose members are required by law to be able to read and write.
[XXVII-32] Before 1827 it was a prosperous city; but the serviles burnt it that year. Since then it has suffered several times, especially in 1872 and 1873.