Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-04-20
IRON Dun PANAMA CORRESPONDENT
PANAMA. Feb. 2Sth. 1849.

L
val off Chagres. There being no harbor at
that place, and the sea always stormy and in
a constant swell, we were obliged 10 go down
about miles from the mouth of the river to
a somewha. more secure place. called Navy
Bay, and there anchored The steamer Orus
came alongside of us next morning, and her
Captain assured us that he could fake all the
passengers. with their baggage But he great
ly disappointed us in this respect, for, after
having taken about one-third of the passen-
gers and their baggage. he refused 10 take any
more that trip, and left us. He promised TO
| be back mex; day {; but we waited in vain for
two days and half, and were at last COM
PEELED to go ashore in one of the steamers
boats. without our baggage. the Captain pro-
missing us to send it IN short time Canoes
we could not get, as the passengers of the
Crescent City had them all engaged, we rely
ing on the Orus. There were few, how
ever, came alongside of our steamer, that ask
ed $50 for a load and trip 10 the shore, dis
lance of one mile and half and they got it
too l, however, remained perfectly cool, and
did not enter into such an expense.
Now let me tell you something about Cha
gres Ii is a most miserable nest cannot
compare it to any place or any thing There
are about one hundred poor huts, inhabited by
halfnaked negroes, who, when at work, are
wholly so. | took a short ramble over the
fort built by the Spaniards 1t must undoubt-
eddy have been strong place in its time even
now its ruins present an imposing spectacle
| met here conniryman of ours, practising
medicine, who tells me he is doing good bu-
siness his name is Co ETH I wrote you
in my last that the Crescent City bro't about
800 passengers, and three other vessels a large
number; and now imagine, if you can, the
situation we were all in 800 or more peo-
pie at and about Chagres, without any accom-
notation except such as nature offers
1t rains here almost every evening. more or
less, and il happened not 10 rain, hut actually
poured down in streams, the evening our bag
gage was brought ashore. Every one had 10
look 10 his things, and we were obliged TO
, stand in the river, up 10 our knees in water,
, for the rain caused it to swell every minute.
was so fortunate as TO get my trunks about
| 8 O'Clock in the evening. But what to do now!
was the next question :-nothng. tried 10
be as composed and even cheerful as could
pulled piece Of meat and bread out OF my
pocket for supper, walked up and down IN the
rain till about ! o'clock, when it ceased
laid myself down on my two trunks, my car
pet bag for my pillow, and went 10 sleep.
And the morning came and went, and The
ot,I, {lr,.- svsf
took the same supper and the same lodging a!
on the previous night and did just as we'll
: Next morning at dayhreak. 4 three times re
peated hurra awoke me, and looking around
: saw the orus making toward us.
forgot to mention that some Of our passen
gers refused to enter iato our contract will
her Captain, and tried to get up the river OF
+ their own account saw one man pay SIT
a for canoe from our steamer up to GorgoNa
r Some passengers in one Of the vessels brougb
t plank along, and made them into boats, 10 q
V Qp Rather hard work under such broiiing
t sun.
1 There is Yankee here with his wife, wht
: keeps & sort Of an ealing house III tent. iol
e get breakfast there for rs cents ham, bread
f AMI potatoes, ana not too much Of either
5 Al in the afternoon. we were on boar
y the Orns, and started up the river. At som
! places this river is very deep; this is cause
e by the great many head'ands and crooks III
: river has, for there is not, believe, sFaigh
d run OF the distance of one mile AMI quarter
It as far as we went Towards shutdown "
ran aground, and could not get afoat anti
g next morning. Owing TO the shai!owness Q
r, the river, the 0ruS cannot 90 more than J.
II miles mp; this time she only went Is miles
e and We then took canoes, furnished by tn
h Orus, as far as Gorgona. We left the steame
d al O'Clock in the morning, and were rowe
about up the river, under a most sCOrchin.
J. sun, all day At 2 O'Clock P NJ, we haitei
t ale something, and then continued cur Jour
o ney. There IS one reJeeming point on II
o river; lis water is excellent, cool, clear, an
J. refreshing, Al night we stopped again, con
n sumed what we had left from our dinner, an
then went into oar sleeping rooms, !, e, lai
d down on the sand al the shore. We foun
o no room in orr canoes. as they were fniI t
= overlooking with baggage 1t is too danger
e Gus to sail or row up the river at night, on ac
count of lis swiftneSs, and the many enags /
= it. awoke at daybreak, and found myse
e wet through and through with The dew 1T
% very heavy here.
e / know | hear you say now, why did h
g not buy him a tent? 1t is very easy 10 sa
A so, The answer TO your question you wi
n find in the sequel of my narrative Only IL
e me remark here, that, were 10 travel thi
l. road again, would have nothing but pa
ar of saddle bags, | VIII, however, not int!
% rupt myself We left again little after day
% without anything to eat in order 10 max
G. some heaiway as long as it remained some
F. what cool, for at o'clock the heat become
intense, and arrived at Gorgona al about
'e O'Clock A. NJ.
re Now, a little more about the river. TIL
banks of IT are, at most places, of great an
10 perpendicular height. ! saw traces OF forme
=; foods, no doubt very recent ones, az high q
~ % feet above US. There are few huts aIon
d. the banks, the inhabitants of which earn the
o bread-no, not their bread, for they have nont
; they live mostly on fruit-by the canoes TIL
.. greatest luxury they indulge in, apart froE
.. their fruit, is spirtuous liquors The countr
~ is, indeed, beautiful it is wild Eden. I'll
10 monkeys seem to form The greatest part of III
population You can seldom see them, the
30 hide themselves behind the trees, but you ca
d. [ constantly hear them; the forest seems to
N filled with them, as also with parrots and
in great many other birds OF beautiful pumag
III Oranges, Coeoanuts, and other fruit, heautifr
N 10 behold, and no doubt delicious to taste,
Of abundance. Why cannot rational ciyliize
On man enjoy these sweets and beauties Of n;
ut ture, where nature has been SO lavishingi