The coffee-pickers are paid by the task, about 40 pounds of green berries for 10 cents. Ordinary laborers, cartmen, and farm laborers receive from 40 to 80 cents per day. Notwithstanding these low wages, food and clothing are so easily obtained, the climate is so genial, and nature has been so bountiful that the people all look contented and well fed. Old people and children appear to be well cared for, few beggars are seen in the streets, and nowhere are such appearances of poverty and squalor as may be seen in the large cities of the United States and Europe. Chapter XI. COMMERCE. Notwithstanding the natural difficulties of insufficient means of transportation, the commerce of Nicaragua is steadily increasing. This is due in part to the extension of its fruit trade, which is principally transacted on the Caribbean coast, and in part to the growth of the coffee shipments, made chiefly from Pacific ports. The following table shows approximately the increase of the trade between Nicaragua and the United States. Such statistics are to be considered with a knowledge of the fact that the imports are stated in Nicaraguan currency, while the exports are calculated in that of the United States. Notice must also be taken of the further fact of possible undervaluations on goods upon which import duties are collected. Imports into United States from Nicaragua... $1, 496, 171 .... 927, 022 Balance against United States...... 569, 149 737, 559 282, 671 In so far as these figures show a steady increase in the trade between the two countries, they will be accepted as gratifying evidence of progress in that direction. Those, however, who see in them an advantage to the United States because of a diminution of the "balance of trade" against this country will be forced |