[XXVIII-64] Quite simple. Squier's Travels, 120, 272-5. Breakfast invariably comprises eggs, roast meat, beans, and cheese, to which other dishes may be added or not; finishing with chocolate or coffee, the former mixed with roasted corn, and the latter with milk. The dinner consists of soup, boiled meat and greens, followed by a stew of beef, pork, fish, or fowl, with some vegetables, and dessert in the form of a variety of dulces. Rice is as necessary at dinner as beans at breakfast. Between breakfast and dinner, fruits or some cooling beverage are partaken of. Supper is a frugal meal, accompanied with chocolate, or tiste, which is the national beverage of Nic.—a mixture of cacao, and ground roasted corn, beaten in cold water with sugar. Wheaten bread is made of imported flour; but it is too expensive for general use, and is generally sweetened. The tortilla of Nic. is larger, thicker, and of coarser dough than in other parts. In many places it is considered 'artículo de lujo,' and instead of it, boiled or roasted green plantains are used. Wine is rarely brought into requisition. The only fermented liquor in common use is the aguardiente distilled from molasses, which only the lower classes drink, and not to excess. The poorer classes are very irregular in their eating, for they eat at all hours; living mostly on plantains, beans, cheese, and chicharrones and other fat portions of pork. Fruit in superabundance is eaten. Lévy, Nic., 267-72; Stout's Nic., 130-2; Squier's Travels, i. 271.
[XXVIII-65] The govt has at the capital a fine military band, which gives public concerts in the open air twice a week. The marimba and old Spanish guitar are much used. Occasionally a Spanish dramatic or zarzuela company, or a troupe of acrobats or other artists, visit the country.
[XXVIII-66] In Leon some of the élite do not frequent the place, but they, not excepting the priests, practise it in their corridors. Little parties are got up of afternoons to have chicken-fights, and at times large sums change hands.
[XXVIII-67] Govt has from time to time passed laws to prohibit gaming. Rocha, Cód. Nic., ii. 81-3; La Union de Nic., March 9, 1861; Nic., Gaceta, Jan. 15, 1870; Pan. Star and Herald, March 20, 1886.
[XXVIII-68] Occasionally those who take part in the dangerous amusement receive fatal injuries. Lévy, Nic., 288-94; Squier's Travels, i. 331-3. The following authorities also treat of the character, and manners, and customs of the Nicaraguans. Reichardt, Nic., 80-1, 88-90, 102-25; Heine, Wanderbilder, 96-107, 187-204, passim; De Bow's Rev., xiii. 236-58; Wells' Walker's Exped., 44-79, 84-5, 106-7, 241-2, 422.
[XXVIII-69] 'Whatever may be the future history of Cent. Am., its most important part, in all that requires intelligence, activity, concentration, and force, will be performed by San Salvador.' Squier's Cent. Am., 315.
[XXVIII-70] Aboriginal names of places have been generally preserved; and there are a few towns, exclusively inhabited by Indians, who use their own language among themselves. Squier's Cent. Am., 318-23.
[XXVIII-71] About 50 miles in length, and 20 to 25 miles in breadth, lying between La Libertad and Acajutla.
[XXVIII-72] Nevertheless, in business transactions he is indisposed to trust others.
[XXVIII-73] This garment is elaborately but rudely embroidered about the neck and shoulders with colored thread. It is often laid aside in the country towns. Montgomery's Narr., 98-9; Squier's Cent. Am., 321.