79—FROG IN GREEN STONE, 511 80—GROUP OF ABORIGINAL RELICS, 515 81—NEW VOLCANO ON PLAIN OF LEON, 515 82—THE PAROQUET, 550 83—VIEW ON LAKE MANAGUA, 560 84—THE TOUCAN, 574 85—THE CRIMSON CRANE, 582 86—VIEW ON THE ESTERO REAL, 587 87—VOLCANO OF COSEGUINA FROM THE SEA, 587 88—VOLCANO OF COSEGUINA, 589 89—MOUNTAIN SCENERY IN HONDURAS, 601 90—LA UNION AND VOLCANO OF CONCHAGUA, 612 91—CHURCH OF LA UNION, 612 92—LAS TORTILLERAS, 621 93—VOLCANO OF OMOTEPEC FROM VIRGIN BAY, 643 94—PORT OF SAN JUAN DEL SUR, 646 95—MOUTH OF RIO LAJAS, 660 PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION. ---------- Since the publication of the original edition of this work, in 1852, the beautiful but hapless Republic of Nicaragua has been the theatre of a series of startling events which have concentrated upon it not only the attention of the American public, but of all civilized nations. It has been made the arena of aimless, and not always reputable diplomatic contests, and of an obstinate and bloody struggle between a handful of Northern adventurers and an effete and decadent race. And unless the future shall strangely betray the indications of the present, it is destined to pass through a succession of still severer throes, in its advance to that political status and commercial importance inseparable from its geographical position and natural resources. For, in Nicaragua, and there alone, has Nature combined those requisites for a water communication between the seas, which has so long been the dream of enthusiasts, and which is a desideratum of this age, as it will be a necessity of the next. There too has she lavished, with a bountiful hand, her richest tropical treasures; and the genial earth waits only for the touch of industry to reward the husbandman a hundredfold with those products, which, while they contribute to his wealth, add to the comfort and give employment to the laborer of distant and less favored lands.