The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-18
INTERESTING INFORMATION
RELATIVE TO rHR
CALF ORNIA GOLD REGION,
THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA,
&c. &c. lie.
&c. &c. &c.
INFORMATION PROM LIEUT.. LoEsER.

Masen to the goyernn Ant ~ washington i"ho ~iso
brought on about $4,000 Of gold dust, which ne de-
posted at wsshingto n } with gene.- ae'0ip''A
the gold region, the climate, Sc, of Cslifor-.,
aHys the geld region Is very large and there Is sum
eient ore t. proAtaby employ one hundred thousanN
persons for enerstons to come so Tar Is dsco'erca
he gold IL found in an extent of country four hun
dred miles long by one hundred and fifty miles wids,
and NO particular portion seems more productive tnan
.nother In the river and the datlands, the gold
dust IL found; but among the rocks and In the high
lands It is found in Jumps, from the size OF mans
hand to the size Of an ordinary duck shot, all OF
which s seid and presents the appearance OF having
been thrown up by volcanic eruption. So plenty Is
the gold ttecare lie paid to the washing of by
those engaged when he left the consequence which
H. great quantities thrown away In the highlands,
he was walking with man who found piece weighing
about thirty pen nyweg hts worth $40, but which
he purchased for 81 The piece is solid and has the
form Of perfect the top Off He has habit
lust as il was found, converted into breast pin
man by ordinary labor, may procure from $50 to $500
per day. With regard TO the climate he says Is So
ubrious at time being so cod as to require more
than light blanket to sleep under. When he left the
people were sleeping under the trees without the rear
of sickness from exposure. The rainy season begins
about the first OF November, and continues until
though there We clear days for every rainy
cannot be obtained in the country. Flour is worth
$50 per barrel though fine bullock may be obtained
for So Clothing very high and the demand is very
great The Indians, who have heretofore used no
clothing whatever, now endeavour to initiate the
whites, and will give any price for garments The re-
mort relative to the Mormons requiring 80 per cent Of
all the gold found he says is a mistake. When the
gold first discovered of the leaders OF that
people demanded that amount from all the Mormons,
hi,b
remonsrance caused not the slightest difficulty among
the people. He in San Francisco when the gold
was fret discovered about forty miles from that place
The news received day, and the following
morning, ont Of the whole company to which he was
attached every deserted except two sergeants and
took with them all the horses belonging to the officers
In few days the city almost entirely deserted and
Col Mason the Governor of the territory, was, and
has ever since BEEN obliged to prepare and cook his
own food servant cannot be had at any price; and
the soldiers have not sufficient pay for month to
subsist on for one week The salary OF the Governor
not sufficient TO support him and like all others in
The more wealthy circles of life he is obliged to be his
own servant He speaks OF the country as Offering the
greatest inducements to young men of enterprise and
thinks there Is ample and gold for hundreds Of
Thousands.
JOURNEY ACROSS TIE IsTIIMUs OF PANAMA-ITs
DANGERS AND DIFFICULTIES.
In the present excit. condition of the public mind
regarding California and the various routes by which
that modern Ophr can be reached, 1t is a matter of
serious importance to the crowds Of our feo citizens
who hurryipg of to be of the precise nature
Of the difficulties they vii: have to encounter on the
Papsma route, for which, on account Of the great
saving OF distance, many are about to start. We
have therefore, taken considerable pains to obtain
authentic and reliable information regarding this
route ar d herewith present to the public account
Of IT, written by gentleman Of this city, who, from
heightened residence at Panama, and frequent jour
neys The lsthnus Is fully competent to give
clear and correct idea Of the route, and It's diff
sulties =
J. G. Bennett, Esq:
SIR-Ip accordance with your request, will endea-
ver to give tucb Information possess the sub
sect Of travelling across the Istbmu, of Panama. aud
trust that 1t may prove somewhat useful to such Of
fellow citizens about to try this route Let
suppose TIE traveller once safely arrived at
cHAGRKs.
lar. or cole elton of huts is well known situsted
at the mouth Of the river Chagres, where it emptes
itself into the Atlantic ocean
II is but q small village. and the harbor IL likewise
small though secure 1t is formed by the juttng out
Of q narrow neck Of land. and liz defended by the
ease, which IL built a high bluff the other side.
The visge itself as have before said is merely COL
lection Of buts and IL situated in the midst Of q
swsmp-at least, the ground IL low, and the continual
rain. which prevail at Cbagres. keep it in swampy
condition SO much so, that logs Of wood are laid
sorg the centre Of the streets to enable passengers
to avoid the deep mud which is always to be found
trey With the exec stion Of some few ocas at the
cattle and in the custom house Its population, Il
speak of course of 1t previous to the present infux
was probably not more than 500 in all, if 30 much.
ITS CLIMATE
IL without doubt the most pestferous for whites in
the Whole world The coa,t Of Africa which enjoys
dreaded reputation in this way is not deadly in its
climate as Is Cbagres The Thermometer ranges from
7so 20 $50 sll the and it rains every day. Many
ats eller, who bss incautou,ly remained there for
Nv days and nights, has had cause to remember
Chsgres; and many gallant crew who have entered
the barbor in full health have, many days found
their fnsl resting place the dank and malarious
banks OF the river Bilious remittent, and con-
Eestive fever in their most malignant forms, to
hover Chaeres ready to pounce down on the
stranger Even the aco mated reside Of the tropics
runs great risk in staying any time in Chagres but
the from the North and its nvigorating
br.tres, Iuns a most fearful one
A CHAGREs
has hitherto been limited to the forwarding Of goods
sufcept to supply Inhabitants Of the village itself
With the scspty clothing Ire produce OF the 18TH
mus, consisting chiefly of gold dust hides loda rub
shipment to the United States and thu neighboring
West India iss nds Thus Chagres Is but depot, and
real business is transacted there. TIE
Accommodations yoR TRAVELLING
sespty and inferior indeed. unless the place has
sommodaone, as it always has been the rule for pa
seDg.Is to hurry the river without even stopping
RIvEn JOURNEY,
which Is performed IL propelled up the stream
may land, viz the villages OF Gorgona aud Cruces
Tie die from Cbagres to the first named Is sbou
80 OF 10 niles TO the some on OF 50 hhe'
traveller wi for the fret time in his life embarts
Sou'h American river like The Cbagres, cannot fail
to experience singular depression OF spirits at tae
dark and soubre aspect of the scene. In the FIRST
place he fpds himself in q small cauoe 80 sMell that
be 10 forced to lay quietly in the very centre OF the
stern portion, in oroer TO prevent 1t upsettus tn
palm leaf tbatch Tor foSo is termed on the rver
over his portion If the boat sbuts out much Of the
view while his baggage, piled carefully amdships,
and covered with oiled cloths, eaoerrddos as they
are trned. Is under the charge OF his active boat
map who, stripped 20 the buff with long pole in hs nd
eIperty propes the boat up stream, with many cry
81 strange exclamation The river itself is dark,
muddy, and rapid stream in part. quite Narrow
and sPaip at other points IL IL from 800 500 yatds
vide Let <ancy that II resemble. the bIistt
spd cheerful rivers which met with here at the
North No pleasant villages aeorn Its baoks-no sigus