The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-12-27

but twenty-one miles Of land route intervenes be-
tween him and the glorious Pacific Ocean cruces
is small village, situated on PLAIN, lmmedlalely
on the banks of the river which here are high and
sandy, Gorgona the other landing place, is a few |
miles below Cruces, and is likewise a small village,
yerV similar to Cruces-in fact, all South American
villages resemble one another very much. From |
these two points, both about the same distance Iron
Panama, there are roAds TO that city, which roads
unite about nine miles from it. Starting from either
point he commences his
JOURNEY ACROSS THE IsTHMUs.
The usual method of performing 1t, Is on horse or
on rnue-back with another mule to carry the bag
gage and muleteer who acts as guide Inc road
IS mere bride path, and the rains on the 18TH
mus, are very heavy, and there is more or less OF
them all the year round, the mud holes and swampy
places to be crossed are very numerous. Those
who here in New York talk gayly of walk across
the Ishmus as if the road were as PLAIN and easy as
some Of our Macamadized turnpikes, would alter
their tone little, could they see the road as It IS
As for shooting game on the route, the same allicnl
ties present themselves on the river, VIZ the WHO
beasts and reptiles with which the bush, OF Mo''te
as II is there termed abounds; besides the great
risk of losing oneself in the woods Certainly, wild
pheasants, guinea-hens parrots, maeaWs ana q va
riety of splendid birds, unknown IN these laltuues'
do abound in the wds there but the difheuitles IN
hunting them are such as 70 make i lmpossipie IoI
| any save the native Indians to follow it with any
success The most rational, and, indeed, the only
safe plan for the stranger TO pursue, is 10 carry ms
| PROVISIONS with him. That is the plan universally
adopted by the natives, who would look on any one
as insane, were he to propose to depend on cnance
game for his meals on the journey. Ham, biscuit,
| sausages preserved meats, and such kinds OF port
able provisions, are the bestto carry AS Tor walk
| ing from Cruces to Panama, IN case mules are
scarce the feat is by means Impossible, PROVIDED
the traveller arrives in Cruces In good health, ana
| has but little baggage. 1t might easily be done
with the assistance Of guide, but let no stranger
/ unacuuanted with the language and new 70 sucn
| countries, attempt it without guide. Having then
fairly starred from Cruces, either on horse OF on
foot after a tosome Journey OF about eight or Ten
hours the savannah Of Panama is at last reached,
and the sight of the broad and glltterng racine
ocean, and the white towers of the Cathedral OF IA
nama which are seen at the distance OF ABOUT Iour
miles from the city, give the now weary taVene5
assurance that his Journey will shortly end, and
another hours toll brings him to the suburbs OF the
famed
He will find, however, that with this, as with
most other South American cities,
| ,Tis distance len Dis enehantment to the view
| And clothes the mountain with an azure hue.
| The city of Panama is situated on the shores OF
the bay of that name, and a most beaunful pay Il
4 is, too What is the number of the present popu-
ation / cannot say, as it is doubtless filled with
strangers It formerly contained from 5000 to 7OOO
inhabitants, and was quiet, still city, where, our
ing the day nought but sounds of the convent ana
church bells disturbed the horses OF the cltlzens IN
their cravings in the public squares, when were
! all overgrown with grass The trade carried on
consisted in importing dry goods from Jamaica, lor
the supply Of the Isthmenans, the nelghborng pro-
duce of Veragua, the pearl islands, the towns Of
Chrqui David and their vlclnlties, ana the various
little inland towns. Goods were also sent down 10
the ports of Payta in Peru, and Guayaquil, in the
Ecuador The returns made for these goods con-
sisted in the produce of the Isthmus, such as gold
dust hides India rubber, pearl oyster shells, iron
which the mother of pearl Of commerce Is made ,
l .lk4rro Ne Of a
the Isthus as not enough sugar is raised to supply
the city of Panama, and they depend for their sup
plies of wheat -four, salt, sugar, and groceries, on
Peru or Jamaica, on the Atlantic side The ell
mate is warm, say from soto 90 degrees an tne year
round the rainy season long and severe Inc
nights in Panama, however, are much cooler than
J usual in tropical climates.
IT'S MARKET AND ACCOMMODATIONS
are poor On account of the extreme heat, fish thai
are caughtin the morning are soft BY the afternoon
Beef goats flesh and pork must alsoabe eaten I'M
mediatelv after killing, or else they Will spoil
Fowls and chickens are dear vegetables, such al
I vans ukars and the various fruits of the tropics
d scarce and dear Tea and coffee, as well as cho
coate are expensive; and wines and liquors, OF
account of the expense of transportation across Ih'
Isthmus are likewise dear and of inferior qualify
q Regarding accommodations for travellers, am un
a able to say what they are at present. In torme
e times they were very scanty. II is only within
few years that public hotel has been established
| previous to tndl, travellers Hdu W u0Pon1 "a VI
hospitality of those to whom they carried letters
f introduction If there is any extraordinary lnfu
of strangers Panama, of course prices tor accom-
:, modations will rise
THE HEALTHINEss OF PANAMA
! : is far greater than that of Chagres. With du
care avoiding all excuses and the night air, PEI
. son can preserve his health; STILL the heavy rain
. and continual damp atmosphere render it necessaF
to take every precaution for though healthy, whe
z compared with Chagres, it is by no means sal
= place for unacclimated strangers from the North
4 And now, having taken the traveller for Cal
ts fornia across the Isthmus, let conclude by gI'
ing word Of advice.
= If he has passage engaged through to "a
e. Francisco the Isthmus route Is decidedly the quci
= est and, all things considered, the least weary:
4 But-and speak now more particularly to thos
y who have but a limited amountof funds-just So
q fcient to carry them through TO San Francist
" without any stoppages-let these travellers bewa
y how they try the Isthmus, if they have only e.
~ gagged passage as far as Chagres after their to
~ some Journey to Panama. (if they escape delay an
~ fever at Chagres they may have to wait weeks
Z, n massage to San Francisco, and when the lor
y wished for opportunity occurs, they will find then
selves unable totake it. as their expenses in Panan
ii will have exhausted their means Thus, sltuat
~ in a strange, unhealthy country, moneyless al
riendless their spirits depressed by their stuatlo
ny Il reo,lires no prophet to predict hearrendlng
pr mination TO their golden schemes. Trusting th
so MANY az this class of passengers will pause and
no ect ere they place themselves in such an uatort
y nate position am, sir, your most ob't serv't.
JUS ma Son PS YoTk. Dec. II. isls vI1ToR