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184 it is connected with Salinas, and thence on to Nicaragua, Granada, &c. If any railroad is contemplated in this quarter, it ought to enter at the Bar of Salinas, which would render these two ports important. When this portion of the country becomes settled, civilized, and more populous, I little doubt but Culebra will be better known, and probably the chief port of the state of Nicaragua.

Water fit for consumption was not found at the beach, but may be obtained at a short distance up the creek, which a boat may enter at high water. If wells were dug, doubtless it would be found at the N. W. side, as the surrounding country is mountainous. Another symptom in favour of this is the thickly-wooded sides and summits, as well as bright green spots of vegetation throughout the bay.

Brasil wood is very abundant; mahogany and cedar were observed near the beach, but as they have been employed cutting the Brasil, probably all the mahogany and cedar, easily attainable, has been taken.

The geological features of this port differ much from any that we have met with on the coast. On the north side of the bay, resting on a hardened stratum of clayslate, a sandstone occurred containing organic remains; of these, masses had fallen to the base of the cliffs, (about eighty feet above the level,) and were washed by the sea. In one I found large nodules of claystone dendrites. In the western parts of the bay, basalt occurred, with hornblende rock;