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to be marked out by nature itself to become one of the centres of
mankind’s civilization. By its smiling valleys, fertile plains, and
thinner, but shadowy forests, by its splendid lakes, gently flowing
rivers, and verdant mountains the country appears well able to
tempt even the most exacting people to settle in it. Indeed the
country, on the arrival of the Spaniards, was found to be very
densely populated, and divided amongst a great number of small
sovereignities, which could however be referred to two* separate
stocks, differing in language and character. One of these, the third
one of those stocks from which has sprung the population of
Nicaragua, was los Choroteganos or Mangues. They occupied the
territory between the two large lakes and all the fertile level country
west and north of Lake Managua down to the Pacific and Bahia de
Fonseca. Oviedo asserts that they were the aborigines and ancient
masters of the country, without being able however to state any
proofs in support of his opinion. Of los Choroteganos four groups
are usually distinguished: 1:0) Los Cholutecas on the shores of Bahia
de Fonseca; their principal town was the present Choluteca. 2:0) Los
Nagrandanos between Lake Managua and the Pacific; their capital
was Subtiaba, near the present Leon. 3:0) Los Dirianos between
the lakes Managua and Nicaragua and down to the coast of the
Pacific. Their largest town was Salteba near the present Granada
and 4:0 Los Orotinas far separated from their relations, inhabiting
the peninsula of Nicoya and the territory of Guanacaste, which
comprises the north-eastern part of the republic of Costa Rica. Opinions
vary, however, with regard to these groups, several authors being
inclined to regard los Cholutecas as a detached branch of los
Pipiles in El Salvador; they would then be of Toltecan origin.
Certainly there is a number of local names within their district
which seem to corroborate this opinion. Other writers are disposed
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