The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-19
Our Panama COrrcspOndence,

Our Panama Correspondence.
PANAMA, March b. 1919.
Description of the Rirer of Gorgona-Cost of Trans
porting Goods-Jowney on Foot to Panama from
Gorgona-Advice to I'areHers-Arripaia at Pana-
ma-Detention.
My last letter from Chagres hope you have re-
ceived in due time. After tedious, troublesome
and expensive journey across the Isthmus, ar
rived here on the Sd inst.
Chagres to Gorgona.-The travelling between
these two villages, about sixty -four miles, is very
slow and difficult route-twenty-two miles are per-
formed by the Orus, which boat, by-the-by, is no
more fit for the Chagres river than one of the ocean
steamers on the Hudson-the river is so narrow,
and has so many windings, that it was with the
greatest difficulty the boat could get along; indeed,
she was stuck half "A dozen times. You may Judge
her speed-we left Chagres at ii A. NJ, and ar
rived at her stopping place at dusk
Canoe Irareling.-I'he next morning we were
transferred into canoe, with all our baggage,
about 5000 lbs;-the cost was $50. The steamer
charged ten dollars per passenger to Gorgona
We spent nearly three days in the canoe, which
was propelled by four natives with poles think
this river will never be navigabe for anything but
and obvious. The river is, generally speaking,
very shallow, and abounds with trees of immense
size, which from time to time have been washed
INTO the bed OF the river here and there showing
the water, but IN many instances are hidden
from the eye, making 1t very dangerous for UNI
known navlgators. 1t Is, undoubtedly, one of the
most crooked rivers III the world, and the further
you advance, the stronger Is the current Whenever
the rapids are approached, found the current at
least eight miles an hour dead ahead. learnt that
during the rainy season, when the river swells from
four to eight feet, 1t is very difficult to get canoes
to proceed up. In every other respect the river is
beautiful, being fringed to the water edge with the
most luxurlant growth of trees, shrubbery and
vines, and the air filled with paroquets parrots, and
birds of the most splendid plumage, and plenty of
monkeys.
Gorgona.-As miserable looking a village as
Chagres On my arr ival, | found about one hun
dred and ten tents pitched, containing about five
hundred emigrants for California, of all nations
The location of the emgrants is on small plain
on an elevation OF about five hundred feet above
the level Of the ocean, which makes it quite sa-
lubrious. During my stay there-five days-,I did
many exposed themselves most imprudently. |
found mule and negro hire still very HIGH prices
ranging from ten to sixteen dollars per load and in
no case allowing over two hundred pounds. When
native horses, which are of a smaller breed than
the smallest Canadian horses-I was satisfied that
heavier weights could not be carried, as they had
already been worn out by previous transportation,
and no suitable fodder could be obtained to i'm
prove their now wretched and cadaverous condi-
ton. AS aforestated, held on for few days
having despatched a message to Panama, to ascer-
tain how matters stood. BY this despatch, we sue
ceeded in engaging drove of twenty fine mules,
which, with the addition of seven mules procured
on the road, and four natives, commenced, on
the LIST instant, to despatch with our goods and
luggage, at total cost of three hundred dollars
The transport charges being, as you perceive,
enormous, many of the emigrants were great
ly disappointed, and consequently, large quantities
of provisions and other articles were sold to the
natives at good profits; others, consisting of
panies, purchased horses at from ten to thirty dol
"A undertook fheI r Sniff
raj trips. Some OF these expeditions, fear, will
terminate with contracting fevers and other dis
eases, from over-exertlon and excitement in tro-
pical climate, where the rays of the sun nearly
parch every thing-adding thereto very bad, and
often nearly. impossible, road. Travelling is only
performed during daylight, and from two to four
days are occupied for transport.
Road from Gorgona.-On the Sd instant, at
A. NJ, L started on foot towards Panama / will
hardly attempt TO describe the road is, without
exception, one OF the worst in creation indeed,
cannot find out how any one can give it the name
of road-it is merely path, about one foot wide
which for ages has been traversed by the mules and
their leaders. did not ind, on the whole route,
fifty yards of level ground at one time-it being
hill up and down through a dense forest of the
widest character, and nearly impenetrable; from
made wherein it ascends and descends like ma
tnral stascase the path is intersected by numerous
streams, which, during the present dry season, can
easily be torded, but during the wet, which COM
y,
very difficult TO pass; at that season, however, the
Cruces road IS exclusively used for transportation.
Alter ten miles walk, struck upon the encamp-
ment OF the surveying expedition, but could learn
rest. Passing along, found the path worse and
worse; was, indeed, at times puzzled how to get
across the streams, sometimes over half rotten
logs then on few branches thrown in by pre-
ccding emigrants, and often by leaPing from stone
TO stone. The natives, regardless of any obstruc-
tons IN the shape OF water, march right ahead.
! passed many. transports on mules which could
hardly crawl along; others had given out alto.
gether, and, notwithstanding the thrashing and
kicking of the muleteers, the beast laid motion
less; several carcasses OF mules and horses lay
along the path, which from time to time had broker
down under their burthen; | found the carriers,
although the sloWest, generally the safest, convey
ance, not being liable by breaking down to have
your articles damaged. About six miles from Pa
mama, struck upon an ancient Spanish pavement,
which was in the worst possible condition, making
the travelling tor pedestrians still more fatiguing
and painful TO the feet; there was. however no
help but to go ahead. At3 in the afternoon, I
came IN sight of the city, and shortly after enter
ed the ancient pride of the Spaniards; and truly il
must, centuries ago, have been the residence of
the wealthy and fashionable, although everything
is now crumbling into dust from neglect; but
presume more particularly for the want of means.
Before conclude this chapter my advice to every
one who wants to cross the Ishmus is, take as lit
tie baggage as posslble-put that into the most
cohiPdct hnu easily nanuleu PackdScsj tDo'e al,
avoid heavy, large trunks-they are the worst
package traveller can take along; the muleteers
and native carriers will turn and twist it a dozeu
times, and, at last, they will ask you enormous
price. had trunk about, 3 feet by 2, weighing,
suppose, I25 lbs. | could not find a mueteer
who would carry it; had ultimately to engage
two natives who brought it on a pole, paying
them $I2 for twenty-four miles
Panama--On my, arrival here, felt pretty well
used up, after walk OF twenty-four miles, during
eight hours, in a tropical climate; | therefore
launched into the first hotel at hand, being the
Hotel Francais on Mersey street, close by the gate
OF the city. | was soon in profound slumber,
until towards evening. The first thing had to
ascertain was about the prospects of getting off,
] learned that about 200 persons were congrc-
ga no IA fhpi xvov In, FOL, 81.