The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-04-24

before our readers
PANAMA. New Grenada, Feb I'd, lS49.
wrote you when at New
York. that was about TO start for Califor-
MIA. and having arrived safe at this place, thought
perhaps ii few incidents of my journey would not
be undressing TO you. will not promise to be
very connected or Ineligible in my account, for
the fatigue and the many strange sights have SEEN
have quite unsettled my mental faculties, never
very remarkable for their productions. We sail
ed from New York on the 9th uli, and when two
days out there came on a severe gale, which OBJ
liged us to lie by under close reefed sails for SO
hours, when it abated somewhat, but the weather
continued very rough for the most of the voyage.
Our vessel was a small Brig, of only about $50
tons, and consequently she had much more mo-
ton than larger one, rising and falling with the
waves like a sea bird. was very sea sick for
nearly ten days, as were most of the passengers,
and during that time would almost have exchanged
nv prospects of success in the FL Dorado of the
West, for the comforts l had left at home. But if
the storm made the sea rage, it fastened us on in
our voyage, and we made land in the vicinity OF
Chagres, on the 18th day out; but as our Captain
was quite unacquainted with the coast he strnck
below it, and kept coasting down for ABOUT 100
miles, when being assured he was wrong, he put
about and was two days more in beating back
making the passage in is days, which is an I'M
commonly quick voyage.
In getting into port We had a very narrow es-
hi, and fho lOr4
in consequence of the Captains ignorance of the
channel, but the Captain of the steamer Orus, ~
ing here, seeingus coming in the wrong direction,
came out with his boat, took US in tow and
brought US safely into the harbor was much
disappointed in the appearance of Chagres, ex-
cepting the fort of San Lorenzo, which has a
pretty and romantic site on height at the left
of the entrance. 1t presents but miserable col
lection of huts matched with straw, perhaps from
100 to I25 in number, but each hut is well peo-
pied, and perhaps the whole town might number
from 800 to 1000 inhabitants. They are mostly
negroes and Indians, with an admixture OF the
two races. Hardly Castilian of pure blood with
the exception of the A lcade, inhabits the place
The captain of the fort is a full blood African
and looked and appeared much the best of any
man saw.
The people seemed a mild and inoffensive race,
but wretchedly ignorant and indolent. Not sign
Of cultivation appears about the town, but l was
told that sugar cane was cultivated short dis
lance out. Nature seems to provide the natives
with nearly all they need, and the most of them
seem to be quite as happy in their blissful ignor
ance as their more enlightened visitors. Their
domestic animals, were the most miserable speci-
mems of the animal creation l ever saw. They ap-
peared to have pair of every sort, bu Oh an av-
erage not half the size of ours, and nothing but
skin and bones at that-not q wheel carriage in
the place. The castle or fort is an exception to
the rest of the town, and must at the time it was
built, have presented grand and imposing ap-
pearance. 1t is built in the Moorish style OF
architecture, and strongly reminded me Of the
plates had seen Of Moorish castles in Spain
But it has sadly gone to decay the guns, of which
there are some splendid specimens of brass 32's,
are corroding on their rotten carriages and every
thing else is in corresponding SITUATE II. The
keep is occasionally used for the confinement Of
prisoners but otherwise the castle is of no posi-
BILE use. Some half dozen blacks seemed to have
charge Of it, but saw no one who had the APP
pearancc of being more than common soldier
l saw but one house, and that but one story
that built after our fashion The rest are built
of poles bound together, and interlaced with cane
The roofs arc matched with long leaves resem-
hlfuor darr So l..
There were several deaths by the cholera a.
mong the natives while We were there, brought
on it was said by the fatigue of carrying large
burdens for passengers to Panama The great in
Aux of travel has raised the price of carrying so
high that they will perform what to us appear su-
per-human feats in navigating their boats, and
carrying burdens on their backs
The way of crossing the Isthmus is by canoes
on the Chagres river to Gorgona or Cruises, and
thence by mules and ponies to Panama. The
price is now from to 10 dollars for each passen-
ger with one trunk, to Gorgona or Cruses in
the canoes, varying, Of course, according TO the
rush Of passengers Should full ship load of
passengers arrive, and all be eager to go on as
last US pOosiOief thc htNes; Inc their dIkee VS.
itors, will take advantage of their eagerness, and
demand corresponding price. The passengers
by the Falcon who passed on before us paid o
dollars from Chagres to Cruises, and the same for
a ride from Cruises to Panama, and 10 dollars
per hand for baggage. Our party paid about 8
dollars each from Chagrcs to GOrgona, and from
thence to Panama dollars per hand for baggage
The most Of us footed it from Gorgona. Those who |
did not, paid dollars for mule or pony. A |
part of our company engaged with the natives to
take us to Gorgona in canoes for 8 dollars each.
The rest engaged with the captain of the steamer
Orus, for 10 dollars. He took them up about 25
miles, when coming to too shallow water for his
boat he sent them on to Gorgona in canoes The ca
noes are from 30 to 40 feet long, made from the
body ola single tree and will carry aboat4 passen-
gers with their baggage. The middle is wide COW
ring made of leaves to protect the passengers
rom the sun, but just high enough to sit upright