The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-15

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been done to keep them in repair, since the
country became free from the dominion Of
old Spain. But mule owners command high
er freight than they would get lift was kept
in order A great part Of the way the ra-
vines and mule-paths are completely covered
over by the branches of trees and vines uni
ting together across the road, scarcely add
hitting light enough TO pick the way, and
one must keep his hat tied on his head, or
often get it knocked off, and his head with it,
II he does not stoop low, by the branches,
vines and old trees that extend overhead
across the road. A cargo for mule is $50
pounds, and goods are generally put up in
water proof packages Of 100 pounds. Atva-
rious places along the road are seen hacien-
das, and open ranches or huts, and women
swinging listlessy in their hammocks, or sit
ting on mats, smoking cigarillos, while their
little naked red skin half Indian children are
playing about on the clay floors, and good
looking cattle grazing in the fields. The soil
is exceeding rich, being deep loan, the
color of Spanish brown, producing corn, SUI
gar cane, rice, beans, peas, melons, and all
the tropical fruits, if cultivated, I'M great album
dance; but here they only cultivate enough
for home consumption, and little for Pa
mama market. A more indolent, lazy look
ing set no one ever saw, and yet they look
fat and hearty; and the women, who are
generally short in stature, with very remark
able small feet, and well turned ankles, have
some of them, very pretty features, with long
glossy black hair, and large full ustrous
black eyes; indeed, many Of the young
"Cholas" Gas the Indian women are called,
are quite handsome, and all very kind and
hospitable to strangers.
Panama is a compact city, walled all
around, and moated, with only one entrance
from the country, over massive stone bridge
of one arch, then through stone arched gate
way into the city. 1t is situated in the bot
tom Of a beautiful sandy bay, and built most
ly on lava, that has flowed out into the sea
from some ancient volcano, or eruption Of
nature, one layer flowing over the other, and
hardening, until it forms point, jutting out
into the sea some distance from the walls OF
the city, over which the tide flows up and
washes against the walls, which in some
places are undermined by the waves of the
sea. The tide rises and falls about fifteen
feet, other accounts say twenty two feet
Ed. Herald, leaving the lava-rocks, which
are fiat, bare some distance off, where one
can pick up beautiful shells and oysters.
Ships have to lay long distance of from
the shore, an account Of the shallowness Of
the water; and cargoes can only be landed
and taken of at high water, from the export
and import gate, through which all goods
have to pass. Merchant vessels very sell
dom touch here For SO days ! saw only
the British war steamer Cormorant, one
French vessel, and the Peruvian schooner
in which took a passage. Charges are very
high here, there being but one hotel, called
the lsthmus Hotel, in the place but those
who become acquainted with the place, can
get board at private houses for one dollar
per day at the hotel the price is two dol
lars per day; but now, on account of the
great rush Of travellers across the Isthmus
towards the gold regions, charges may have
increased tenfold. @
| As different companies are trying to make
arrangements to build railroad from Cruces
to Panama, it may not be amiss to suggest
another route, having all the advantages Of a
good seaport on this side for ships of any
draugh., and doing away for any necessity
of steamboat passage, as that up Chagres
river; and that is, by making a railroad di.
rect from Porto Bello to Panama, distance
said to be not over twenty leagues, which
could be done, ] think at less expense thar
from Chagres with steamboat connected
with it.