for this inlet, shut in on all sides except in a north-west direction, where it communicated with the Pacific.

The fluvial system of Nicaragua lies almost entirely to the eastward of the mountain ranges, and consists of numerous rivers, the principal being the Coco, the Grande, the Bluefields (Mico), and the San Juan. The Coco, towards the Honduran frontier, about 300 miles in length, flows into the Caribbean Sea near Cape Gracias á Dios. This stream, called Wanks by the English mahogany-cutters who had settlements on its banks, has also been known by various other names. Although receiving the waters of numerous streams, running through a narrow valley, it does not carry a volume of water proportionate to its length.

The Grande (Matagalpa) river, 230 miles long, rises in a sierra in the department of Matagalpa, receiving in its course the waters of many small streams and several considerable rivers. For a distance of 100 miles from the sea it averages 300 yards in width and 15 feet in depth, and would be navigable for vessels of moderate draught, were it not for the bar at its mouth, which is very dangerous and seldom has more than eight feet of The deepening of the water on the bar would be an expensive matter, but this river will one day doubtless be opened to commerce.

water.

The Bluefields river (sometimes called the Mico or Escondido) has its source in the mountains of Chontales, and, on its course, receiving the waters of many streams of more or less importance, flows through a region covered with magnificent forests, discharging into the

Bluefields lagoon, a land-locked and well protected harbour. For a distance of about sixty-five miles, to the Boca de Rama, small steamers ascend without difficulty, and should the contemplated deepening at the bar be carried out, ocean vessels will be able to reach the same point.

The San Juan river, a beautiful tropical stream, infested by alligators,' forms the outlet through which are dis

SCENE AT BLUEFIELDS, MOSQUITO TERRITORY.

charged the waters of the great hydraulic system of Lake Nicaragua. Its navigation is interrupted by rapids and rocks at several points, but it is used by the small and light-draught steamboats of the transit company to carry passengers and freight between the Atlantic and the lake. It is about to be brought prominently to the

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Andagoya says:-" In all the rivers which enter the sea, there are a great quantity of those serpents which we call lizards. In the rivers they do people harm; but on the land they are very torpid, though they are ready to resist and defend themselves, yet they cannot run fast."

notice of the world, as its waters are to be used as a part of the system of inter-oceanic communication.

There are several islands near the Caribbean coast, the most important being St. Andrews, Old Providence, and Great and Little Corn Islands. These two latter have been claimed by the Mosquito authorities; but, on the ground that the treaty of 1860 defines the Caribbean coast line as the limit of the reservation, the Nicaraguan government has ignored their contention and established a post on Great Corn Island with an official in charge. Banana and cocoa-nut growing are the industries of this island, situated about thirty-eight miles from Bluefields and eighty-two from Greytown.

MINES AND MINING LAWS.

The liberal code of mining laws of Nicaragua, based upon the old Spanish laws, is a voluminous book of 112 pages, published in the year 1877, and revised in 1892.1 Mining machinery is admitted free of duty, and there are no taxes, either government or municipal, levied on mines. There is no distinction between foreigners and natives in the right to acquire and hold mining property.

Generally speaking, the north and west contain rich mineral resources and many mines, some of which were once famous, and there is no doubt that, under conditions of peace, good government, and improved communication,

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The most important part of this Code will be found in Bulletin No. 40 of the Bureau of the American Republics; "Mines and Mining Laws of Latin America."