The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-06-07
PANAMA CORRESPONDENCE.

feIow-ci,zsn DR.. C. C. PARRY, dated Pan.
ANA, May I'd, 1885,
"Dear ir:--I find that have an opportunity
to send you line by the Falcon, the regular mail
having closed send this by private hand as far
as Chagres.
"The famous city Of Panama has seen me
eojourner in its strange streets for three days.
am comfortably quartered with the other MEM
bers of the commission in an airy barn OF room
| facing the Governors Mansion and affordng a
glimpse Of the beautiful Bay OF Panama.
~ have no time to 60 into details, blu, i, will
be sufficient to say that made pleasant and
speedy voyage from New York to Chagres in
nine days and took three more TO accomplish the
crossing Of the Is.hmus.
"The Jug-bear stories Of the difficulties and
dangers Of the route are oil fabulous. Chagrcs
is beautifully situated, shut out from the sea BY
bold rocky promon,ory surmounted by an old
Spanish Fort, in which military form is still KEEP,
up by small naked garrison and dlsmounted
guns, some Of superior finish and large calbrc.
Its subterranean passages and dungeons give il
a stern interest. The town itself cannot pre-
tend to dcscribc--for should not know what
to compare il to, with its bamboo houses and
palm lha,ched roofs. Yankee enterprise has al.
ready turned some of these into trading shops,
and in walking along "rho As,or House" aud
est, Charles" will stare you in the face.
"Wc made bargain with Yankee to boa
us up TO Gorgona in whale boat, and placing
some natives a, the oar VIC dis,anced all compct-
i,ors. The river is really beautiful, and you may
he sure enjoyed my first view of tropical vcget-
alton, though not at the most gorgeous flower
ing seas on (being just the end OF the dry season.
the proiusivn and richness of foliage was enough
to bewildcr northern botanst; the variety and
strange nature Of the fruits and the singular
habits and modes OF living Of the natives, were
sources Of constant interest. | slept the first
night under a jessaminc vine and the rest all
laughed at me for my botanical taete, but n
shower OF rain coming up abou, midnigh, was
glad to retreat TO less romantic quarters.
"As you ascend the river the banks become
higher and the current swittcr, bu, the naviga-
ton for light boats is not seriously INSTRUCTED;
the steam boat is Of no earthly use as it can on
ly run IA mi es, while the distance TO Gorgona
is ~. Gorgona is situated on high bluff and
commences the road by which nearly all the
transportation is carried on in tho dry season.
Cruces some 0 miles further up is not easily
reached in low water, bu, in the rainy season IL
is preferred as il has sort OF pavement.
n. =, n 4
miles and the road for the greater par, is an es-
celent, beaten foo, path, shaded all the way and
agreeably diversified by ups and downs; what i,
may be in the rainy season can only Judge from
the nature OF the soil which is stiff clay and
quilted up with deep trenches, sill even then
cannot conceive of its being SO horrible as rep
resented; us i, was when crossed, | never want
a better foot-path.
sit is funny TO see the ladencd mules, lackass-
es and men Juggling over this great highway, and
!. is no less amusing to see the variety Of Cailior-
MIA adventures pushing forward in pursuit., OF
their fancy schemes.
@There is forwarding house established ut
Gorgona for transporting baggage, they give re-
ccipts and insure your baggage a, Panama for
Sc per 100 pounds.
"1hc first glance you get Of Panama il Ca
thedral towers, seen some two miles over bro
ken plain; the suburbs are occupied with Amer
lean tents, and the town proper is enclosed in n
wall with gates still guarded. II is a singular
dilapida,ed old town mostly Of plastered brick
houses and plenty Of ruined churches; the main
Cathedral is still KEEP, up and gathering of moi
sy bells and kettles summons the worsAipaers
TO mass.
"The shipping lies abou, one mile from town
and is very pretty witnessed from the battery
But am going into description more than in
tended and must stop short. There are quite q
number OF sailing vessels taking Of the adven,u-
rers for the long sghed-ior California, blu, no
steamer The Panama is expected daily up the
coast and the Oregon and California are more
than due from San Francisco; they are probably
detained by deser,ions Of crew or wan, of coal.
sour party will take the frs, steamer and they
are oil heartily tired of Panama, some having
been here weeks, and we are all anxious to &C,
on our survey.
"Iherc have been quite number Of deaths
on the is,hmus among the Americans. but most
~ confined to the incorporate and careless
Persons who have been here long complain OF the
debi'ita'ing effects Of the climate. The fare is
not cxtra--escepti in price. Board a, the princi.
pal Hotels ~ per day"
"KEvIEw or TUE SEssioN."-.Wc notice
that three of our contemporaries copy 10 full
the closing number Of the series OF papers
published in the Gazette entitled MS above.
Those numbers Of our piper containing the
exposition should be reserved for future ref.
erence.