Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-05-16
Letter from Mr.. Merritt.

~
RIFT, Esq, by his friends in this city,
Miners Express.
PANAMA, March, 9, 1849.
After leaving Chagres, l was three days
getting to Gorgona, which is situated on
the Chagres river, about As miles from the
first named place. l was agreeably sur
prised in the appearance and character
of this river. From the representations
in the American prints, had expected to
find low, dirty stream of water, filled
with reptiles of every description; but on
passing up the river, in steamboat and ca
noe, found that my mind has been abus-
ed upon this subject. A more beautiful.
stream of water l never beheld. The
stream is very rapid, clear aid pure
This water is of fine flavor, and would
be exceedingly palitable, if it was cold;
but the uniform hot weather renders it,
like everything else, very warm-the tenn
perature Of the atmosphere being from 81
to 50 degrees of heat. The scenery along
the river is delightful. As you pass up
the river, your observation is attracted by
a high range of mountain lands on either
side covered with luxurient growth OF
mahogany, cocoanut. bananas, plantain,
wild sugar cane, cotton rice, &c. sc.
March l5th.-Parrots and Paroquets
are playing among the tree as plentitully
as black birds in our country; monkies
are yelling in every direction, and now
and then you espie alligator stretched up
Oh the bank, summing himself. | saw two
on my journey, should judge to be 10 or
IL feet long. There is an insect in this
country, called the gigger, which imper-
ceptibly and without producing the slight
est sensation of pain, worms itself deep
into the flesh, and after a time, produces a
very bad soar. While passing up the
river in an open canoe, obliged, as was,
TO repose OH the bare ground, l did not es-
cape without a visit from ten or dozen
of these secret and mysterious foes. After
locating themselves in the flesh, they re-
main there, sometimes for two weeks,
without producing the least pain, or in the
slightest degree perforating the skin, then
a severe inflammation commences, followed
by an acute pain, and copious swelling
OF the parts. The process Of reliefis by
digging them out with sharp pointed
knife. Unless they are taken out when
discovered, they will, in time, cripple you.
Mr.. Augustus Coriell, John, and myself
had an hours work last evening in Dig
cling them out Of our feet.
remained about week at Gorgona-
small village, about the size Of Chagres,
inhabited entirely by natives. During that
week ( made trip to Panama, at the re-
quest Of my company, to secure, If posi-
bic, our passage to California, and ascer-
tain whether it would be advisable to at
tempt to get Our provisions ever the
land rou'e. This journey of p miles.
wis male on foot, in seven hours,
over as rough, rocky, and mountains a
route as it is possible to imagine. arri-
we'd in Panama about one o'clock, p. NJ,
and although completely exhausted, | as
sure you It was refreshed to find 8 or 10
Of my old Dubuque friends, viz: August
us, John, and Edwin Coriell, j. Douglass,
J. Clark, Mccoy, ]. Hampstead, &c. l
remained in Panama one day, secured our
passage at bargain, ($20oeach, in sail
vessel became convinced that we had
better dispose of our provisions for what
ever could get for them at Gorgona, rath-
err than pay twice their original cost for
transit across the land, and returned to re-
port what had done. After hearing my
report, it was resolved that myself and
Mr.. Marvin should remain at Gorgona un-
til we could sell our provisions, and the
balance of the company should start for
Panama. We remainad four days, dur
ing which time we disposed Of our provi-
sions, and left for Panama. When we
arrived at the city, we all got together,
settled up our accounts, and after paying
the expense Of getting our provisions to
Gorgona, each member Of the company
received $685.. So you see this was
rather poor speculation. l have now
been in this primitive city 8 days, on an
expense of from so cts, to 81 per day.
Everything in the provision line is very
high; and It is only by hiring room in
company with ten others, and living up
on the very plainest dict, that | manage to
get along so cheap. There are many here
whe spend not less than $50 per week for
board. The pubic houses charge from 2
to So day, Independent of wines. The
ship in which we have secured passage, is
on the 18th. She will remain in
por: 2 or 3days, and then we shall be of
for San Francisco. 1t is expected that we
will be from 40 to 60 days in running up.
The steamer Orgon lett here this morn
ing, with 23S passengers. The California
is daily expected. There are here more
than she can possibly get on board, who
sec tired their tickets in New York, In
Dec. ls48, and at Chagres, and on the
way between here and there, it is estimated
that there are twice as many as the Ore
CON can possible take on her RETURN
There are from 800 to 1000 Americans
in this city, and ii is thought from ten to
twelve hundred at Chagres, and on their
way to this city. Two Americans have
died since my arrival in this city, from
fever, produced by exposure to the sun;
and a too plentiful indulgence in the tro-
pical fruits, which are considered, even
by the natives, injurious. There are now
: r,a 10 or ID sick. With ordinary pru-