Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-07-19
Core srondcnce Of the Hawk Eye.


want of correct information natural propensity
give you such information relative to the Isthmus,
as have been able to collect.
The steamers from New York, make the trip to
Chagres in from eight to twelve days. from New Or
leans in less time. When landed at Chagres pass
cngers are conveyed during the dry season to Cor.
coma, distance of forty.ive miles. The steamer
"onis'' is small ocean steamer, and but lily alapt-
ea 70 the naVsat'on OF river. sne takes passen-
'ot iona, but :.scends only eighteen miles;
the passenge.s are then shipped in canoes. Her
ch-,ges are so extravagant that she gets but little
patronage. After ascending eighteen or twenty
miles the {" Rio Chagres'' becomes one of the most
beautiful streams ever saw, being succession Of
slight rapids. The water is pure and and the banks
covered to the edge of the river with forests of CO.
Goa, mahogany, bay, lockwood and other trees grow
ing in tropical climates. The underground is ex-
ceedingly thick, being composed Of bamboo, every
variety mangoe, and other shrubs and trees
whose names could not learn, all matted together
with vines. Many of the trees'and shrubs load
ed with the most fragrant flowers, filling the air
with their perfumes. The banks high and fire.
Quently grow TO mountains, rising one above the
other they reach from the river. After being
cooped up 81 days in little schooner in Gains and
| head winds, you may well suppose enjoyed the
prospect afforded by the gorgeousness of these for
ests.
The Inconvenience of the trip up the river are a
hot sun, frequent showers of rain, and the bad,
rather the utter want of accommodations to sleep at
| night. The distance from Gorgona to Panama is
twenty-five miles over rough road, and the jour-
ney is generally made on foot. The mustangs are
weak and worn out and their hire so high, that
most persons prefer walking to riskng their lives
on the backs of animals liable to tumble over rocks
and mountains at any moment The road is an old
trail in most places from to two feet wide worn
by the tread OF animals and the washing Of the rains
until in places it is ten and even fifteen fee, deep.
These passes are so narrow that two barrels or
large trunks horseback cannot get through
without rubbing hard on both sides, and at times
entire trains are stopped in ascending mountain
from this cause. The road is enclosed with the
thick jungle growing the river, that it is fire.
quenty difficult to pass train. The trail is strew
ed with the carcases Of dead animals. We passed
several not yet dead, but which had been de serted
by the muliteers and left to shift for themselves
They sometimes far recover as to be again taken
into service, but more Fl frequently fall dead under
their packs. good mule will carry 800 lbs, the
average is 200. A great many Indians called Poems
are engaged in carrying freight over and is really
astonishing to me what enormous loads they carry.
The cargo is fastened kind of frame, fitted to
their back and shoulders, and I have seen 200 lbs.
carried by man. What is remarkable about
these men is that they have no strength except in
packing. The smallest yankee can handle them
with ease. ..."
The town of Chagres is built on the right bank OF
the river just above its mouth and behind the Penon
on which stands the Castle of San Cristobal. II is
not that grave yard of foreigners which it has been
described to be, but the contrary was quite heal
thy when passed up. At Chagres and on the oppo-
site side of the river, several hundred Ameri-
leans, and saw but one sick man. He lived in
Chagres. Gorgona is on much higher ground than
Chagres and is said to be healthy. Its nhabit-
ants say it is the most healthy place the Isthmus
The houses in both places as those along the river
and road are with few exceptions built Of Bamboo
and covered with palm leaf In the latter place the
inhabitants are not Clearly as in the former and
the consequence is, great many diseases of the
skin. Among the most loathsome diseases that l
have ever seen is what is called here Eephantus,
species Of Leprosy. The feet are frequently swol-
len to two three times their natural SIZE emitting
the most horrible stencil. Cruce is six miles above
Gorgona the Chagres river, and is the place of
debarkation during the wet season. Thence to Pan.
anna the road is paved. This makes the road so
rough that when it be avoided it is never tray
elled. The pavement is of round stones averaging
about four or five inches in diameter and is
from four to ten feet wide. 1t was constructed
while Spain ruled the country, and was to have been
Ad tn paIlo
Chagres. What interrupted the work do not know.
but it was abandoned. Panama is, or rather has
been migratory city, having been built first some
hve miles below its present location The old town
was destroyed BY BUCCANEERS who themselves were
engaged to very considerable extent in founding
the present city. 1t is built small peninsula of
rock running out in the bay as to leave the CITY
nearly surrounded with water. The rocks run out
near the surface for from to two miles thus pre-
venting the near approach Of vessels. For this rea-
son the location ofthe city was chosen, but unfor-
tunatey while its founders thus guarded against an
attack by they forgot that Immediately in their
rear rose mountain which commanded the whole
city. Bolivar subsequently planted his canon here
and the Panamaneons were obliged to come TO
terms. wall encloses about one half of the CITY,
The streets are narrow the houses are built of stone
ana BRICK and contrary to the usual custom in south
ern countries are two and three stories high which
proves that at the time Of their erection there was
no fear OF earthquakes. The streets. wallis houses
and every thing animate and inanmate are in state
or dilapldation and utter ruin. The most OF the
churches are st enclosed, but further than to keen
| the roofs on and candles burning Within no atten
ton is paid them. The remnant of military forth
hcation is used every Sunday as a cockpit, and
within the walls the old Palace the most wretch
ed caricature Of circus ever witnessed. I have
seen trees twelve inches in diameter growing in
what once must have been the most splendid houses
in the city. The inhabitants too seem to have lost
all energy, the soldiers would excite laughter even
at country muster in our Iowa. They are picked
up from among those who too lazy TO work and
receive for their services fifteen cents per day and
ma themselves. dozen convicts may be frequent
iy seen at work in the streets with guard of one
man and an old musket without either powder or
lead. still have not been able to hear of the escape
OF single man. The penitentary or states prison
would not hold Missourian twenty-four hours.
The expense of travelling across the Isthmus for
single man without baggage is from four to ten dol
lars from Chagres to Gorgona,-from the latter to
Panama on horseback ten fifteen doars-board
here from one to two dollars per day. The DELAY
here is vexatious in the extreme. There are two or