The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-06-08
FROM THE IsTHwUs.
chagres River--ssnoritsS Bathiag~-GOr-
sOna-rhe appearances OF the COuntry..
PanAma--Its giOn--Palm
Sunday auseInents.

Chagrca River--Senoritas Bathiag~~GOr~
sOna--rhe appearances OF the COuntry..
PanAma--Its Churches--RoIig gIon--Palm
suAdAy--AmuseEnents.
PANAMA, New GRENADA,
April 18th, 1S49.
DEAR BRoTHER:-If recOllect right
y, closed my last narrative, by placing
myselfin company with Ferguson and
Myers. in one of the natives canoes. en-
route for Gorgona. The Chagres river
about sixteen miles from its mouth be-
comes very rapid stream. and it is there
fore necessary in going up stream to use
long poles instead of oars. Its depth
varies nearly every two hundred yards;
but it's plain and beautiful gravel bottom
Tor rather pebble bottom, for the stones
are beautifully rounded pebbles,) contin-
ues the whole may. At places there are
strong rifles in the river, where the cur
rent is so rapid as to require all the
strength aud ingenuity of the natives to
overcome it-and if pole happens to
slip, away down stream you go at least
an hundred yards before you recover.
The navigating of this river is no child's
play. as the swelling muscles. heaving
chest and short breathings of the natives
testify as they apply their shoulders to
their poles aud gradually heave you up
the stream.
The natives, when they commence
working, strip themselves naked. The
hot sun, which in less than one hours time
scorched my hands and face into blisters,
has no more effect upon them than sim.
ply to dry up occasionally the perspira,
tiUn. When they become over-heated
they dive head. foremost into the water
and remain under for al least thirty sec.
onds. This is their cooling process.
About two O'Clock in the afternoon, we
stopped at little lndian village to ap
pease our ravenous appetites. During
the preparation Of our dinner, strolleC
towards high bluff which bordered the
village Arrived at its base, 1 saw a sight
that would have made many man, less
modest Than myself, feel rather queer and
funny. In little valley, not fifty fee
from whore | stood, l saw at least twenty
Seaortas stark naked, cooling themselves
off in clear mountain rivulel. The wa.
ter was not more than knee deep and
they were in kDeeling posture sousing
themselves by pouring gourds-full of wa
ter on the top of their heads-aDd thi;
operation was kept up 80 fast that an or
dinary waterfowl would have bee n drown
ed by the process. Some few ofthe girls
stood just on tho brink Of the stream
washing clothes. AS soon as | was de.
tected,a scampering afterehiis and shirts
such as you never witnessed, took place
Alterputting on shirt piece. they gave
me very polite invitation to come and
enjoy bath with them. which, | need not
add, was accepted without the least ur,
ging,
These people spend about one third
OF their time in the water, and indeed
this is the only pleasant way of living in
this hot ceuutry. In the evening, wen,
supperess to bed on a sand bar. On the
morning of the fifteenth, we renewed our
journey, and when within about four
miles Of fGorgona, got the natives to land
aud concluded to walk tho rest of the
way. had not proceeded many miles
before | repented my indiscretion. |
knew that the woods were filled with
snakes, lizzards and all kinds of poison
Gus reptiles; but was not aware that a
person ran the risk of encountering a Ii
ger-a breed of animals, not very numer.
Gus, but frequently found in the forests
l had left my gun in the canoe. DR..
Chamberlain, in walking over the same
route, shot Tiger and Monkey. No
one can form an opinion ofthe density of
these foresls-it is almost impossible to
penetrate them,-l arrived at Gorgona
about noon completely worn out. Many
of our party did not reach this place until
the succeeding day.
Gorgona is situated upon high bluff
and contains about six hundred inhabi-
tants, who differ but little, in appearance
and habits, from those of Chagres. When
| arrived, there were about three hun.
dred Americans encamped at this place
aud we pitched our tents among the rest,
aud commenced camp life. We remain.
ed at this place about four days. as from
the discOuraging accounts, we knew that
nothing would be gained by hurrying to
Panama. boarded most of the time
with The Alcalde, who has four wives and
nineteen children by one wife, and OF
course is the greatest man in town.
On the 2lst, started for Panama, a.
lone, upon little Jackass. | had in
charge the mules carrying the stores be-
longing TO j, B. Weller, U. S. Commits.
sioner, Each mule carried two whole
barrels and small package in the cen.
tire. But the greatest sight is TO see the
large packages, which the natives carry,
fastened by little wicker basket on their
heads have seen them pack off loads,
which would make two good stout mon
grunt to lift-yet they carry them twenty
two miles The whole road is filed with
mule trains and men trains, going and
coming.
The appearance of tho country, be-
tween Gorgona and Panama, like all the
scenery here. battles description. When.
ever you reach high point, where you
can make a survey, you can see stretched
out, in long range, small mountains, all
topped off like sugar loaf aud covered
with she most beautiful vegetation. The
road leads over aud along and around
these mountains. Occasionally you de-
scend into deep ravino where runs as