The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-06-08


endure, the open air was not disagreea-
BILE; but at first | did object to the lizards
crawling all over my body and only sub
nitted at length from sheer necessity.
On the 22d, arrived at Panama-on the |
morning of the Esd bathed my limbs in |
the waters Of the Pacific.
When you come within about three |
miles of Panama, you strike into broad |
and open road and country. and for
the first time in the whole transit
of the lsthmus, see some evidence of civil
lizalion. You can see the gray old tow
ers of Panama-the roofs oflhe antigua
ted houses and the huge wall that sur
rounds the city. It's certainly the "fun-
niest" looking place ever saw--more
funny than curious. Describe one house
and you have description ofevery dwell
ing in the city-so with the churches.
The houses are generally three stories
high with court inside. The aristocra-
cy live in the third story--the middle
class in the second story, and the plebians
or servants in the basement. Running
around each of the upper two stories is a
wide balcony-the houses being constr uc-
ted upon the principle TO live out of doors
as much as possible, and at the same time
in house. This city was built better
than century and halfago, and not one
repair has been made to it since it was
finished. Imagine the appearance any
city in Ohio would present, permitted to
go to waste for $50 years. Yet the place
evidently bears the marks of former
wealth and grandeur.
Aside from the churches and their form
OF worship there is little of interest can
be said of the local affairs of the city.
There ale about twenty churches. and for
every church there are about four bells
some of them the finest toned | ever
heard. 1t seems TO me that they are
ringing almost constantly, the natives sup
posing that the noise keeps the devil out
of the city. This being Lent. the people
seem to live in their churches. Mass is
said every morning. at six o'clock, and
this is the only opportunity we have to
see the aris;ocraCy. The women dress in
the richest yet neatesi kind of style; but
! cannot pronounce any eulogy on their
beauty. They generally have the ap-
pearance ofold maids aud look jaded and
worn out You don't see in them the
freshness and vivacity Of our pretty A
mercan girls. The
first day Of April was Palm Sunday and
is considered here the greatest day of
the year. Towards evening a large pro
cession formed outside of the city to vel.
come the coming of Jesus Christ. The
number in procession must have amoun.
ted TO more than 5000 persons In a
little while after this vast assemblage of
people had been formed, our Saviour ap.
peared, mounted on an ass and surround.
ed by all the priests and potentates in the
State of Panama He was represented
by waxen figure with long curling hair
AS the crowd moved through the city,
hundreds offemales preceded the image,
sprlnkling The most beautiful flowers in
the path Every hoese top and plaza
were filed with anxious and joyous faces.
The bells kept up continual ringing.
and If the Saviour had actually appeared.
in the form ofhumanity, the people could
not have been more rejoiced or made
more ado about it. In the course of the
week, they crucifed him and then raised
him from the dead-and as the great Fl
male they hung Judas Issariot in the mos,
public plaza ofthe city. have not time
nor do feel we'll enough to give you
full description of this pageant.
The principal amusements in this city
are cock fighting and South American
circus, and Sunday is the great day set a
part for the sports.
One great treat, which we receive hore
is the fine serenades, which the natives
give us about three times a week. Inev.
er, in my life, heard more beautiful mu.
sic than these people draw from the VIC.
lin, flute and guitar. These are the only
instruments used in their churches, and
when man becomes a good performer
on them his fortune is made. They can
play all the fashionable polkas und waltz
es, that we are accustomed to hear in the
States. Every Sunday evening, they
give conSert at the Hole de Americana,
for the benefit of Americans, who are
sick and destitute; but with this excep.
ton all their serenades and concerts are
gratuitous.
Great quantities of the tropical fruits
grow here aud can be obtained for a more
song. Water melons are brought to mar.
ket in abundance and are eaten in way
that beats old.fashioned muster days.
But by far the richest fruit that grows
here are the pine apples. They are very
large, and OIL deliciously luscious. Next
to these, is the ead,fruit, somewhat re.
sembling our cling stone peach. 1t is of
the size Of the golden pippen-its seed
the size of a walnut. Ii is exceed
!ngly nice and not bad TO take.
Immediately upon my arrival here,
took quarters among some of my acquain.
tances in large fine room, situated a,
bout $50 yards from the Pacific. pay
tor quarters 10 cents per day and board
around at the different restaurants which
costs from so to rs cents per day. In this
way live not only we'll but cheaply.
You will probably not hear from me
again until reach San Francisco.