The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-18

lowest charge for single passenger and from that up
to two three aud four doubloons As for TAXI
out boats from here, and rowing them mp the river.
should think it would be hopeless attempt Hardy
toned to much similar mode Of travel their rivers,
would probably be able to accomplish IT. but in that
burning and unhealthy climate, for Young meu fresh
such navigation and ell to attempt such
feat would he nsdnsss indeed.
Let however, suppose the journey completed, and
our sdvanturers safely arrived at
Cruces.
He may now graduate himselfou having achieved
the most tosome part of his Journey and but twenty
one miles Of land route inteIvenes between him and
the glorious Pacific Ocean. Cruces Is small village
situated on plain, Immediately the banks of the
river ~hieh here are high and sandy Gorgons, the
other lanog rlace s few miles below Cruces, and Is
likewise small Village very similar to Crueea,in 'sct
II. South American villages resemble another very
much From these two points, both about the same
distance from Panama there are roads to that city,
which roads unite about nine miles from it. Starting
from either point he commences his
ACROSS isTHsUs.
The VISUAL method performing 1t, s on horse or on
mule back, with another mule to carry tns baggage
and ueteer who acts as guide Inc road ID mere
bride path and the rains on the isthmus are very
hi avy and there lie less OF them all the year
round the mud holes and swampy places TO De
are yery numerous Those who here in New York,
talk gsily walk the Ishmus, as II the ROAD
m;zed turppke would alter their tone little, could
they see the read is As shooting game on tue
route the difficulties teemselyes a, 0n the
river the wild beasts and reptiles with which the
bush it there med abou nds besides ths
great Of losing esef in the woods, Certainly wild
phe@ants, guinea hens, parrots, macaws and variety
Of spen did birds, unknown in these ATTITUDES, do
abouD in the wds there but the dfultes in hunting
them such make it impossible tor any tbs
native Indians to follow it with any success. The
most rational, and, indeed, the only safe plan for
the stranger to pursue, Is to carry his provisions
with him. That is the plan universally adopted BY
the natives, who would look on any one as insane,
were lie TO propose to depend chance game for his
meals on the journey. Ham, biscuit, sausages pre-
served meats and such kinds of portable PROVISIONS,
are the beet to carry As for walking from Cruces TO
Panama. in case mules are scarce, the feat is by
means impossible. provided the traveller arrives in
Cruces in good health and has but little baggage 1t
might easily be done with the assistance of guide but
let no stranger, upacquanted with the language and
new to such countries, attempt 1t without a guide.
Having then fairly started from Cruces either horse
foot after toilsome journey of some Gig at ten
the sight Of the broad and eiterpg Pacific and
the white towers Of the Cathedral of Panama which
seen at the distance of about four mile. from the city
give the weary traveller assurance that his journey
will shortly epd and another hours toll brings him to
the tuburbs Of the famed
CITY OF PANAMA.
He will find, however that with this, as with most
other South American Cities
"'Tis distance lends enchantmcnt to the view,
And clothes the Il ountan with hue"
The city Of Panama is situated the shores Of the
bay Of that name and moss beautiful bay it is, too
What lie the number Of the presen mt population can
ret say as 1t Is doubtle filed with strsngersit for
mery contained from 5000 to 900 inhabitants. and
was quiet, stll city, where during the day. nought
but the POUNDS of the oonye and church bells dis
turbed the horses Of the citizens in their CRAVINGS
the public squares, which all overgrowu with
grass The trade carried on consisted in importing
dry goods from jamaica for the supply of the 18th
mans, the neighboring produce of Veragua, the pearl
islands the towns of Chiriqu David and their vic al
ties, and the various little inland towns Goods also
were sent down tc the per's Of Payta in Peru, and
Gusyequil. in the Ecuador. The returns made for
such geld dust, hides, India rubber, pearl oyster
shells from which the mother Of pearl of commerce is
made) sarsaparilla Sc Agriculture Is at low point
on the lsthmus as not enough sugar raised to
supply the city of Panama, and they depended for
their supplies Of wheat -four salt sugar nd groceries
on Peru or Jamaica. oE the Atlantic side The eli.
warm say from so to IS deg all the year rou nd
the rainy season long and severe The nights in
Panama however, are much cooler than usual in tro
pical climates
MARKET AND ACCOMMODATIONS
are poor. On account of the extreme heat,
ffh that are caught in the morning soft by the
afternoon. Beef. goats flesh and park must also be
eaten i'm medately after killing elsa they will spoil
ukars and the various fruits of the tropics
and dear Tea and coffee, as we'll as chocolate
peDsvs and wines and liquors, on account Of the ex
pense of transportation across the Isthmus like
wise dear and OF nfe ior quality Regarding accom-
modations for travellers to say what they
present In former timer they very soauty
1t is only within a few years that public hotel has
been he'd previous to that travellers had to de-
pend on the hospitality Of those to whom they carried
letters Of introduction II there is any
influx Of strangers to Panama Of course prices for
accommodations will rise
THE HEALTHINEss OF PANAMA
is far greater than that Of CbsRres With due care
avoiding all excuses md the night air, person
tnual damp atmosphere render it necessary to take
every precsutioD for though healthy when comp
with Cbserss, II is by means a safe place for unac
climsted strs pgers from the North.
And row. having taken the traveller for California
sero.s lie Isthmus let me conclude by giving word
Of advice.
II he has a passage engaged through to San Fran
cisco the Istbmus route il decidedly the quickest and
all things considered the least weary.
But-apd speak now more par ticuarly to those who
have but limited amount of fuDd'juet sufficient to
carry them through to San Francisco without any
he thpy try he
Istbnus IL they have only engaged passage as far
Chsgres; after their toisome journey to Panama. III
they escape delay and fever at Cbagreso they
have to wait weeks for passage to San Francisco and
when the lorg wished for opportunity occurs they will
find the mseves unable to take it. their penses
Panama will have exhausted their means. Thus. stu
ated in strange, unhealthy country none yless and
fendsss their spirits depressed by their situation 1t
requires no prophet to predict hesrtrendins term-
nation 20 their golden schemes. Trusting that many
Of this cltss of pass Dgers will pause and reflect
they place themselves in such an unfortunate posi-.
ton, am, sir, your most obedient servant
New York, Dec. H. ls4S. VIATOR.
DR.. PoYNToN's LECTURE ON THE GOLD REGIONS OF
CALIFORNIA.
On Saturday evening last, Or. Boy nton gave leo
ture, in the Tabernacle to large and respectable au
dience on the elements of geology and the geological
formation of the gold regions Of California In con.
fequence ofhe agreeable state of the weather and
the occurrence of the great FIRE, which was tten
raging in the Park theatre, the attendance less
than IT probably would have been but for these cir
Yelling through the western districts Of America for
period of.eyen or eight years during which time he
was occupied in geological and pursuits
and be had been Induced at the request OF NUN Der
gentlemen in the city, who interested in the
subject, to give TO the public tie result CT his
peience in the mountsine, woods, aud val
leys, Of that region, for the benefit Of those
who might go thither in search of riches.
There were geological reasons, he said, for be-
lieving that the earth which they inhabited wes
originally in fluid state but as he had not time this
evening to prove that well other state It's
things
must be taken for granted. The crust of the earth
composed chic fly of four distinct minerals. which
were cssioDaly found mix, up with fifth AM sixth
class, up TO many nine VIII CHI constituted
all the original esme nts wbicn formed the crust The
original crust Of the earth consisted of quartz fed
rpar, mica, and bornbend forming in combination
the eyenites AZ GRANTEES. He here pointed to map,
on which were exhibited there formations. After emu
merstDg the chemical equivalents Of there diere mt
piherale, be went 60 Tint in eonse-