New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-04-18
NETWORK TRIBUNE.
YACHTING IN THE BAY OF PANAMA.
Correspondence Of The Tribune.
PANAMA, March ., l5l


PANAMA, March ., l549.
ma ,rs,prxy. | have iust returned from an
,,,,,op. Of fifteen days among tbs isl
"a. and along the shores OF this noble Bay Of Panama
1y.,e were several of us In company. We had
crown tired Of waiting long in deness for steamers
.h,.b never came, aud 90, one cool evening, while
Walking around the rampsrts Of tbs desolate town
,,oL sudden resolve to try for few days the free
.,aea,y life Of the Panama pearl fishers, or the Bnces
Of old Who once laid waste the entire coast here
,bout Tho preparations were made at once and but
,bor, tine was necessary TO put US In complete sail
,pg tim. Our equipments were nearly IS primitive as
hose Of the natives Themselves Our craft ws' dug
ovt or canoe Of respectable size and being fuirggeo
r,b, pass a. bark Of two tons burden. She was fur
nshed with three masls spare bowspft Jackie ru''e'
In short ship In miniature, ,rcsPt ns keet The con
,souenee Of this was that when an adverse "ind oe"
,,her strongly over our quarter, or when the rapid
tide. Of the Bay failed tho only way TO prevent Der
rolling over was 10 make speed to the shore beach
her and wait our chances Of starting again. The ca
noe however, was an admirable saier when both wind
and tide were 10 her favor which is than be
aid Of some vessels have seen.
We RAJ down tho shallow part Of the Bay toward
The green Islands which protect the anchorage for large
The waves sparkled in the and the sky above us
was more blue and brigOt than ever saw at home
We felt In capital spirits and when the towers of old
Panama began % grow dim in the distance 1t seemed
a. Il We had finally cut loose from that probationary
nsce and were free 10 rove where we chose on the
vida Pacific Al Tobsgo the most beautiful Island of
thu Arcbipelsso about nine miles from Panama, we
stopped for time. II s The usual resort OF out
ward bound vessels for the purpose Of obtaining water
Of which there is good supply. lie woods are gor
geous with blossoms and tropical fruits nearly all kinds
If which grow 10 perfection and gathered In alum
dance Nothing ever near my idea OF Para
disc The very air IL Intoxicating with Its excess Of
perfume and every expansion of ones lungs seems to
steep tho whole frame In delicious fragrance
Fora few days We led wild but mort enchanting
kind of life among these islands seven Of which we
visited In ALL In the course of our wanderlngs At Ia
boss we came upon the poarfshlng grounds and were
sseay Interested IN the process of diving and procur
ng tho oysters though none Of us had an ambition TO
y our luck In such wet digging The pearl placers'
however are vastly profitable. Many negro diver
hs. brought up from the rocks in the course OF his
trade his hundred thousand dollsrs worth Of these ex
cresences of diseased oyster shells. An expert insn,
,.ho "hoi- Lls breath.
And goss all naked. to the hungry shark,'
lgcky II he does not furnish the monster WIN pate
OF before reaching the top again, will shell out
thirty or forty pearls of various sizes and value, each
week For this he gets about reals go cen,s per day
-' dreadful trade :" ss Shakespeare says. The pearls
vary much in size and quality saw 1hree or four OF
sbou, half the length and more than the thickness OF
my little finger but these Of course irregular Ia
shape. In making supper Of the oysters on the
beach. accidentally swallowed several small ones
oh heating Cleopatra
all hollow The oysters excellent flavor, and
we thought them good eating those ofhe shre~s
bury banks We procured some very good pearls al a
moderate price, and brought them away with us
very Interesting part OF cruise was the yis' 10
Santiago VersguGs, fma town on the coast about
forty leagues from this city. About two days journey
Inland there are gold washngs In the mountain streams
which yield considerable quantity othe precious ore 10
the natives who work Ia them. Some specimens OF
gold dust which obtained at the town are Of as hno
equality California furnish The natives told us
that they frequently washed on, ounce per day from
the fine sand There no lumpS nor scales found IS
on the Sacramento but the business Of goldhuntng is
carried on upon limited scale that tho wealth Of
the streams has not been fairly ascertsined We how
ever are bound for the headquarters OF gold and can
not stop to gather by the way.
We touched three times the Continent and in the
course Of voyage, when out upon the open Pacific
spoke three vessels On the return, we were several
times In danger from the rolling motion of our
craft during high winds When the waves were rough
and the foam and spray few over us at each plunge OF
our boat into the hoows between them 1t required
steady hands and some management TO keep her from
being swamped We generally, In such cases scudded
before the wind straight shore and running through
the surf secured her close to the beach 1t was most
refreshing after such race, to lie the shore under
the shade of the lowering lime and tsmsrind trees.
aud to make our night camp under the ample shelter OF
tropical sky. We enjoyed vigorous and buoyant
health aud except being considerably 6ronzed from
the heat and glare of the sun were greatly improved
by the cruise. Should we DO detained here much
longer aud take fancy to turn amateur pirates again
| will let you know Of adventures 1t is st least
better than to sit siin aud complain as 80 many do
here and not without reason Yours truly
ADNKNrVRER.