The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-12-27
Journey Across the Isthmus Of Panama-Its Dan
gers and Difficulties.

position by rashness.
Journey Across the Isthmus Of Panama-Its Dan |
gers aud Difficulties.
In the present excited condition Of the public |
mind regarding California, and the various routes
by which that modern Ophir can be reached, says
the New York Herald, it is a matter Of serious i'm
portance to the crowds of our fellow-citizens who
are hurrying of, to be aware of the precise nature
Of the difficulties they viii have to encounter on
the Panama 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, and herewith present to the public an
account of it, written by gentleman OF this city,
who, from heightened residence at Panama, ana
frequent joarneys across the Ishmus, IS fully COM
pstent to give clear and correct idea Of the route,
and its difficulties
]. G. BENNETT-Sir: In accordance with your
request, will endeavor to give such information as
! possess on the subject of travelling across the
Isthmus Of Panama and trust that 1t may prove
somewhat useful 10 such Of fellow citizens as
are about to try this route. Let us suppose the
traveller once safely arrived at
THE TOWN OF cHAGREs
This town. as il is usually called, bat in reality
village or collection of huts is, as is well known,
it empties itself into the Atlantic ocean. n
II is but a small village, and the harbor is like
wise small, though secures It is formed by the Jut-
ting out of narrow neck Of land, and IS defended
ythe castle, which is built on high bluff on the
other side. The village itself, as Ihave before said,
is merely collection Of huts, and is situated in the
midst Of a swamp-at least, the ground Is low, and
the continued rains which prevail at Chagres, keep
it in swampy condition so much so, that logs OF
wood are laid along the centre of the streets, to
L. IN av0id the deem mnd which
always to be found there Chagres is inhabited by
coored people entirely, with the exception of some
few officials at the castle and in the custoTahouse
Its population q speak, Of course, of it previous to
the present inlux) was probably not more than 200
In all, if so much.
ITS CLIMATE
is without doubt the most pestiferous for whites in
| the whole world. The coast of Africa, which en-
| joys dreaded reputation in this way, is not so
deadly in its climate as Chagres The thermome-
ter ranges from 100 $50 all the year, and it rains
every day. Many a traveller, who has incautously
remained there for few days and nights, has had
cause to remember Chagres; and many gallant
crew who have entered the harbor in full health,
have, ere many days, found their resting place on
the dank and malarous banks of the river. Bilious,
remittent, and congestive fever in their most ma
| lignant FORMS seem TO hover over Chagres, ever
/ ready to pounce down on the stranger. Even the
adclimated resident of the tropics runs great
risk in STAYING any time in Chagres but the stran-
breezes, runs most fearful one.
TRADE AT CHAGREs
/ has hitherto been limited to the forwarding Of
goods across the Isthmus small shop or two being
sufficient to supply the inhabitants of the village IT.
self, with their scanty clothing. The produce of
the Isthmus, consisting chiefly OF gold dust, hldes,
India rubber and sarsaparilla, is sent down the
river for transhpment to the United States and the
/ nejghboring West India Islands. Thus ChagreS is
but depot, and no real business is transacted
there. The
/ ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TRAVELLERS
are scanty and inferior indeed unless the place has
altered very much of late. There are absolutely no
Accommodations, as it always has been the rule for
passengers to hurry up the river without even stop
ping an hour among the huts and this brings us 10
the RIVER JOURNEY,
which is performed in canoes, propelled up the
stream by means of poles. There are two points al
which one may land, viz: the villages Of Gorgona
and Cruces. The distance from Chagres to the
first named is about As so miles; to the latte
about so or So miles. The traveller, who ior tne
i first time In his life embarks on South AmercaI
river like the Chagres, cannot fail to experience
singular depression of spirits at the dark ana somoI
! | aspect of the scene In the first place, he IND
himself IN a small canoe so small that he is forced
to lay quietly in the very centre OF the stern portion
in order TO prevent ii upsetting. Inc palm lea
thatch Cor toldo as it is termed on the IlVer) owe
his portion of the boat, shuts out mucn OF sne view
! while his baQQaQe. piled cdkBlully es
covered with oiled cloths, encerrddos as they ar
termed. is under the charge Of his active boatman
who stripped to the buff, with long pole IN hano
expertIv propels the boat up stream, with many
cry and strange exclamation. The river llseiI Is
dark muddy and rapid stream; IN some paris qull
narrow and again al other points it is from 5OO
500 yards wide Let no one fancy that i resenlDie
the bright and cheerful rivers which are met VIII
!, here at the North. No pleasant villages adorn i
+ banks-no signs Of civilization are seen on mem
! | nothing but tho sembre primeval forest, VINE
!. | grows with all the luxury of the tropics down
. the very margin of its swampy banks and u
" manorovs and all the tribe of low bushes, VINO
love to luxuriate in marshy grounds fringe the side
70 Of the river affording the most convenient place
. resort for the aIligators, with which the marsh
. country syvarus The sensible traveller, hOweve
> who remains quiet in his boat and makes no advel
tIlrous visits on shore, is perfectly safe from al
j. harm from these animals, or the small panther
r MONKEYS and deadly snakes with which the coni
II try on each bank of the river aboInds 3ut M
= adventurous spirits who, here in New ! OK, TAX
Il landing on the banks and shooting game enoue
lie for their provisions will find the thing to be lmpo
At sbe as even If they to succeed IN crossll
al the u1arshv banks on 10 firm ground without sure
ing from the allgators, they would ma inc Iolese
thick and tangled as to forbid further passage al
lucky indeed would they be, II they got 6aek
n, their boat unframed by snakes or other polsono
he reptiles. =.
~ one Ofcourse its length depends on the heayine
y Of the boat and the number of hands polling It
IT. A light canoe, with two active boatmen ana
an one passenger in it. will reach Cruces IN ten
All twelve hours. while a heavier one might requl
- thirty~six hours to accomplish the passage. 1
passenger must take his provisions with num-
Sc, none are to be had on the river, and good wat
III filter will be found great convenience, as the IN
Ie water is so muddy that il is apt to deTange the 90
81 els unless filtered in some way before drinking
~ In view Of the great and sudden influx Of passe
as gers to Chagres at the present time it is imposs
the to say how they will all be accommodated "
est canoes, and what the river journey will cost
81. former times the supply Of canoes was quite limit
and the charge depended on the celebrity with VIII
fhe Journey was performed. A doubloon $50 v
on ne lowest charge for single passenger, and fr
ose thar up to two three, and even four douoloons
- he river should think it would be hopeless
- tempt. Hardy boatmen from our southwest