Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-05-24
g.ntc,. Intelligence fro,s Gs:ss,a..ls.,.
EXTRACT FROM \ LETTER FROM AN AMERI-
CAN CITIZEN, DATED

PANAMA, NEW GRANADA, April g. 1910
Yen lave undoubtedly heard before this IF our safe
arrival at tAa-rcs, ANA also probably, Of our journey
over the lstAmu> ANA ultimate arrival at this cirv Of
runs and of churches We left New orb on the 18th
March in thu Crescent City, and had smooth, quick
passage n Nj days to Chagres where we remained one
d,y We're two days and half going up TIE river ana
stopped day ana Half Gorgona arriving here tile
evening ol tho 2th Ut March, very considerably fa
tlgucd after hard ride Of nine or ten hours over the
stepping hills, but thankful very thankful to arrive at
a resting place
Ont4e steamer, We had crowd Of passengers, but
they dd not Interfere much With either our comfort or
convenience. she is commolious vessel as well rs
noble sea-boat and her officers extended to us every
attention. y c all formed an agreeable acquaintance
with our loly Captain, (Stodlard,) with COL Hughes
Of est liver, who commanded the District Nolun-
teerS IN Mexico, ana WHO To the shmus AZ Chief
Engineer Of the Panama Survey for Aspinwalrs rail
road, with Capt. L. Tucker, Rev. f. 5 Mines and Il
few others
This little party kept together at Chagres, and was
Jolned there BY Genl Norris the great locomotive
builder aud from there we all went up the river
together COL Hughes and the General in their own ca
oe and the rest Of Us in large launch propelled by
our stout natives not with oars, but with long poles
should have said rather that the first fifteen miles OF
80 We went Up III Tie steamboat Orus, stopping at
small collection of NUTS called dos Iiermauos where
we remained on board the Orus all night and then took
the boats in the morning.
Ere Chagfes river ~ every respect, to eyes, ap-
pearcd perfectly lcautituland all felt as if We were
On delighted picnic excursion We went about four
teen miles that day Monday) and remained night
at the engineering camp near the little village Palen-
qullia where we entertained by Capt. Serrel, Of
the Survey.
Next day, Tuesday, We went the other fourteen or
fifteen miles, ana reached Gorgona at night where we
were ho,ptall yanl fur this country uxuriously pro
7ded t0r by Gcnl Norris, at the Engineering Depot,
thc head quarters oi the newly arrived Col. Hughes
and himself, until Thursday morning, when we took
our leave ana Oh thin looking little mustang hor-
scs wendell way through the woods the benight
ed spot.
Chagres is funny looking place, assure you. It
II cose tn the mouth Of the river protected BY high
bluh between It and tie sea- which is Old for
tresS that looks if it had been Very strong in its
uay There arc some one hundred and fifty or two
hundred houses, all huldlcd together on fiat form,
under the hil mentioned, and looking like 50 many
huge fodder stacks.
' Coming up tile Chagres river Ne saw some Of Tie
most beautiful Towering trees You could imagine Be-
SIDES tan palm trees cocoanut, guaya lines and al
gator pear trees al sorts iii fact such as we had
Sten before 1t was curious, too the DlaEtains,
bananas, and some different kinds Of vines all new to
our eyes VI course we We're careful in partakng Of
the native fruits. Since our arrival at Panama, how
ever, have been eating pine apples bananas, plan
tains, oranges, vans, watermelons, and many other
things IN tie way Of vegetables and fruits peculiar to
this country with perfect safety but temporarily Of
course, for the weather is uniformly warm, and not
provocative Of hearty appetites The climate IS heal,
thy, though enervatng at first The dry still
seems to continue. Not drop Of rain yet.
SUNDAY, 22d April.
soon after writing the foregoing, which it was my
intention to finish the evening, and send by an
opportunity then presented was taken quite sick with
the cholera morbus, but got better in few days.
ventured on a taste Of pine apple to relieve my mouth
after eating some Of tie horrible cookery Of Jansens
Hotel and by 50 doing suffered relapse, which, but
fur careful nursing would have prevented me from re-
sumin- my pen early this if not altogether This
is the first day that have felt any strength to write,
and am still very weak We are now, however stu
ated W comfortably, that being tie mend, hope
\ soon To sct strong again When We arrived Lere we