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

to set up straight. They are made thus
low, to keep them from being swept away
by the branches and limbs Of trees, stumps,
and vines hanging over the banks of the
river, and under which they are obliged
to pass, to keep out Of the strength Of the
current In some places the river is so mar
row that the branches of the trees hanging
over its banks nearly ntertwine together;
and though think it navigable to Cruces,
or even up to San Juan, Ga few leagues
farther up,) for small shallow steamboats,,
YET the river, being so very crooked, with
50 many short turns or reaches, and the
current so rapid, they would require power
iul engines; and, even then, meet with ma
ny impediments. There are also some
snags and sawyers to be removed, and trees
to be cut down, to keep their branches
from sweeping offthe tunnels. The river will,
sometimes, after heavy rains, rise, in TWEEN
ty-ionr hours, eight or ten feet and as sud-
denly fall, on account Of the rapidity of the
current. The scenery, after ascending a
few miles, becomes beautiful-the trees and
vines, festooned with flowers Of rich variega-
ted hues, overhang the banks of the river;
while, here and there, as we turn point,
are seen, in the open vistas beyond, rich
vallies, hills, and towering mountains, with
the clouds wreathing along their sides-now
and then obscuring their submits, then roll
ing away, in the distance exposing them for
a few moments to the bright rays of the
sun in all their magnificent verdure, with
here and there small "'hacienda" and rude
"hut, surrounded with waving corn, sugar
cane, and plantain, trees; while there are con-
tinually crossing and recrossing, large focks,
Of noisy green parrots, paroquets, and wild
pigeons, with many other large and small
birds Of beautiful plumage; and while a
person is musing in wonder and admiration
at this magnificent scenery Of nature, down
comes a sudden shower Of rain, which OBJ
scures the whole behind sombre curtain Of
thick mist, and obliges him to draw in his
headbeneath his canopy Of plantain leaves
reminding one Of a land tortoise drawing
his head within his shell.
There being no vessel at Panama in which
| could get passage to Bona Ventura, and
it being reported very unhealthy at the first
named city, from the prevailing Of con-
tagious dysentery, resolved to spend some
time at Gorgona and Cruces. went ashore
at Gorgona, which is a small village, eleva-
ted on table land about thirty feet above
the river ! found the people very hospita-
Bile and kind, and spent week with them,
boarding in the best house in the place for
one dollar and half per day. The houses
are much the same as at Chagres, but larger,
and kept in much better order. The inhab-
itants mostly have farms or haciendas not far
from the village, on each side of the river,
where they raise abundance Of corn, some
rice, sugar cane, plantains, and other tropi-
cal fruits, and casava, yucas, yams, and 9TH
er roots. Around and in every house may
be seen many dogs, ducks, chickens, hogs,
and goats, and many keep horses and mules.
It contains about as many inhabitants as
Chagres. There is road from here to Pan
ANA, which intersects with the road from
Cruces, about three leagues from the former
place, and is said to be about the same dis
lance, viz: seven leagues, but is not so much
travelled as that from Cruces, although
g mine host" said the travelling was much
better, and the distance was much shorter
But his object was to get his mules employed
to take me there; yet what he said may be
true, but | preferred the most frequented
route.
: There is mountain, about league from
the village, which travellers often ascend,
to have view of the A tlantic and Pacific,
which can be seen on clear day.
After spending week here, went up
in a canoe to Cruces, which is about two
leagues further up. Here found the peo-
pie quite kind and hospitable, and, in fact,
every way like those at Gorgona. The
town is a little larger, and the houses much
better, many Of them having boarded floors
and tiled roofs. There is church here,
and curate; the church mostly in ruins, and
only one-haf of it used for worship; but it
is now undergoing repairs. boarded at
Senior Alzemoras, a gentleman who gene
rally accommodates travellers with board and
lodging, and mules and muleteers Board
ing costs the same as at Gorgona; but the
living is much better. He is fine old man,
very accommodating, and, for that place, his
charges reasonable; and would recommend
travellers who are bound either way over
the isthmus to spend their time there while
waiting for a vessel at either port, as it is
the heathiest place on the isthmus; and one
may amuse himself with cunning, fishing,
fandangoes, &c. The town is built upon
an elevated situation, on two small hills, in
tersecting each other in the form of cross,
from which ! suppose it takes its name Of
Cruces @
ROAD FROM CRUCES TO PANAMA.
] remained here fortnight and then went
to Panama; the charge Tor saddle mule
was 50, and for baggage mule and mule
teer SO more, making So. ] started af-
ter an early breakfast and arrived late in
the afternoon, it rained nearly all the way
the road or mule path was in the worst Of
order. 1t was once paved in many places
with huge round stones, but they were all
washed loose by the rains, and the path gull
lied away in many places, so that the mules
had at almost every step to pick their way
between them, stepping in holes Of mud and