The Gate of the Pacific

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. SKETCH OF THE MOSQUITO SHORE.--PAPAL BULL OF ALEXANDER VI. NELSON AND MOSQUITO.--DISGEACEFUL TBEATY. DEFEAT OF THE SPANIABDS AT BLACK EIVER.--EXPULSION OF THE NICABAGUANS. GBEYTOWN.--ITS DESTBUCTION.--SILTIKG UP OF GEEYTOWN HABBOUB. BEMABKS ON THE CLIMATE.--MOSQUITO INDIANS.--MORAVIAN MIS SIONABIES.--BLEWFIELDS.--COBN ISLANDS.--POPULATION AND AEEA OF CENTBAL AMEBICA. In order to complete this general view of the present position of the Central American nationalities, it is necessary to sketch the history of the Mosquito shore, and narrate the state and condition of that most important portion of Central America. The boundaries of the Mosquito territory have, from time immemorial, been in dispute, and to enter fully upon the subject would fill volumes. I shall in this place define the country, as included between the river San Juan on the south, and Cape Cameron on the north, as the points within which the Spaniards and their descendants have never succeeded in establishing themselves. The whole country, it is true, belonged to Spain under the Papal bull issued. in 1524 by Alexander VI., the father of the Borgias, Lucretia and Caesar, with this additional privilege, " that should the natives refuse to embrace the Romish faith and acknowledge her sway, they might be extirpated." The Spaniards, however, do not appear to have availed themselves of this generous permission to seize upon the Mosquito Indian's body and soul; and in no instance did they effect even a temporary footing within the limits I have designated, while to this day the natives retain their freedom and language; and so far from owning the allegiance of either Spain or her revolted dependencies, they entertain the most bitter animosity to the whole Spanish race....