The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-26
Our Central American Correspondence.

O0I OentI0I anne Tcom NOrIeepOuOeuSes
SAN JUAN De NICARAGUA, March la, 1910.
Emigration to Caiif'nia-7f TIP to the San Juan
appearance of the Coast-7H Hpbor Of San
an-Tfade-Navigatioa bsland-!Nsgotiat
for the Right Of Way to the Pacific. &C., &C.,
Your correspondent arrived on the Mosquito shores
at thepor of San JUAN on Sunday, the llth March,
in company with the members Of Gordons Califor-
MIA association in the brig Mary. after fair run of
nineteen days from New York, which would have
been shortened to fifteen days, had we not encoun-
tered slight gale of four days continuance, which
induced our cautious commander to heave to, al
though the wind was fair, and we could have run
before it with other disadvantage than q little
wetting.
On Sunday morning, the 18th, at eight o'clock,
we first saw the shores of Central America, about
twenty miles to the northward of our destined port,
and at four in the afternoon we glided easily into
the beautiful harbor of San Juan, without pilot,
and without difficulty, although Captain Hayes, of
the Mary, had not been there before. Our run
down the coast during the day had been exceed
swampy coast, we found bold and picturesque
shore sometimes swelling into hills juttng out in
Promontores, or sweeping away in easy hollows.
Tropical vegetation clothed the entire range of
land as far as the eye could reach, and crowded
down into the waters edge occasionally the back
ground in the interior would be diversified by
boid mountain cone, aspiring to more ambitious
height than Its neighbors-a adding variety to scene
OF graceful natural beauty.
The harbor of San Juan is entered from the
northward, by passage with five fathoms water
at all times, close In shore reef OF rocks barely
covered with water, running from this passage
across to Point Arenas-forming completely shell
tered harbor, screened from the waves of the Gulf
by Point Arenas and the reef lust mentioned
There are no pilots at San Juan but vessel can
come almost within haillng distance of the town
before entering the harbor, and by laying to and
ties, of the place will send Off a person competent
to show the passage into the harbor.
To our surprise, we found three briggs lying in
the harbor waiting tor cargoes, from Granada and
Nicaragua: We had thought that the arrival of
vessel would be quite event at this little place and
excite no little astonishment-but we found them
fully advised Of our coming, and aware that our
object was to lind a way across Central America
to the Pacific, and thence to California. The
British mail steamer stops at San Juan the 18th
of every month, and land the mails for Costa Ri
ca, via the San Juan River, and receive the out
ward mails in return, which she lands at Chagres
or Jamaica.
The harbor of San Juan Is extremely picturesque.
1t ID a beautiful sheet of water, about two miles
across clear and pelucid, and almost fresh enough
to drink. 1t was strange to us, coming from the
wintry ice:bounnd scenery of New York, to find
ourselves, In few days, III the very midst of green
and yerdant summer. and amongst vegetation
bending under the weight of its own luxuriance,
and dipping ts dark green foliage. into the clear
WdtcIS Vi the udTDOT anu us branching ldIOOnS.
"Let go the anchor" sang out, from the quarter
deck, the captain of our gallant brig; and from
hundred joyous voices, nine times nine, and one
cheer more. were Numbered forth tor the brig the
hands were now eager to set foot, Paddy would
say upon dry land. But until the visiting officer of
the port, came alongside to inspect our condition,
that parsonage himself swept alongside in canoe.
We found him perfect gentleman, Gan English
man, and extremely courteous. After few in
III L..l 4.
shore, and with the word, down dropped the ships
Jolly boat and three of Francis iron lifeboats, be-
longing to the association, and in five minutes
o rob oos
We found San Juan place OF about 200 inhab-
itants, the major part OF whom are Spanish Indians
deriving subsistence from the employment furnished
to them by the merchants of the place, who are
principally French and Spanish. There are six mer-
camille establishments in the place, principally com
mission merchants, who receive consignments from
the interior, and reship them to Europe and the
Living and provisions are exceedingly dear. For.
tunately, we have with us provisions, cooks, &c
in abundance !; but those who missed their meals
through the hurry and confusion of landing the
cargo, paid about dollar per meal at the houses of
the merchants who for the occasion turned hotel
keepers. On our landing, everything eatable adj
vanced from 100 to 200 per cent at San Juan. The
articles Of fowls rose from Is cents to 81 each;
eggs from cent each to cents the loaf of bread
sold for rs cents-weght about IL lbs. French
cheap or cheaper than in New York.
The climate of San J uan is superb; the weather
has been positively delicious. The thermometer
and fresh and delightful sea-breeze sweeps over
the town continually. Our people, l20 in number,
have been hard at work all the week, some landing
cargo, and often up TO their middle in water-somc
building the steamboat-some hunting or fishing
and, regret to say, goodly number getting drunk
and lying about exposed the night through, undergo
ing exposures In eating and drinking which would
g.. hax N.>rr T,l,, h,st.l G,r
feet IMMUNITY. We have not of sickness, and
many who were sick in New York have perfectly
recovered here. Captain Shepherd, fine old gen.
tleman, and at present the Governor of San J uan,
says he has lived at San Juan for q years, and
knows OF no healthier place in the world.
Mr., Gordon contemplates establishing a. perma-
nent line through to the Pacific from this point,
and has brought out steamboat in sections It
will be completed In about eight days. and we shall
then start forward on our inland expedition. The
boat only draws about Is inches water, and we
find native bungeys, drawing 3 or feet. ascending
and descending the San Juan river all the time SO
that anticipate no difficulty in getting across to
San Juan ON the Pacific, where our vessel awaits
that Is to convey us to San Francisco. Mr..
Gordon is negotiating now for the exclusive privi-
lege OF steam navigation the San Juan river for
three pears with the British authorities, the cond
tons bs ing that lump shall be paid annually,
in paceof duties passengers stores, baggage and
merchandise going through, and that he shall put
two additional steamers on the river within the
next eight months. There appears no doubt about
the success OF the negotiation.
The passage OF the river, though practicable for
light draft steamboats,, ~ extremely difficult to
make in she native boats; they are frequently II
days in going up from San Juan to Grenada, dur
ing which time passengers have to sit cooped up
on narrow seal, and Islcep at nights in the same
position. We hope TO make the passage through
In the steamboat in three days, and afterwards,
when the river is known, the future passages are
not expected 10 occupy more than two days.
John Dale, Esq, civil engineer, and G.. l.. Drury,
typographical drauphsman, attached to the expedl-
md "A ~ hnu 81
the river IN two OF francs's metallic llfe-boats, and
are now engaged in making survey of 1t, with
view Of laying down correct chart for the use Of
the line.
Thus Ear our expedition has proved very plea
SAINT one; many Of our boys, who had been living
for some weeks abort in hotels in New York