The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-05-08
REPUBLIC OF New RENADA, -
PANAMA. March Q. ISA9.

| REPUBLIC OF New GRENADA,
PANAMA, March. 9, IS49.
| My Dear -: My last letters were mail.
cd at Chagres, to yourself and my brother
George. In one Of those letters. promised to
| write again at Panama. ! have now seated
myself TO full that duty. Let me first inform
you, that my health was never better. and that
was highly gratified al meeting Mr.. Peck
rem vest erday, and learning from him that you
were we'll when he left dubuque ou The 18th
January. and that my dear sister I'll. had so
far recovered as to be able to walk out must
acknowledge that had many fears when left
home, as 10 her recovery. i trust she is now
out OF danger. Oh! could know from day to
day, that my family and friends were in the
enjoyment Of good health, | could forget the
| pleasure Of their society without murmur
But when reflect that have had no inteli-
gence from you for two long and dreary months,
and that am to remain unadviscd OF your sit
uation Tor probably two months longer, and
possibly four, l do assure you that gloom
passes over my mind, which is anything but
pleasant. ... ...
After leaving Chagres, was three daysget
ting to Gorgonu, which is si,ual cd on the Cha.
grcs river, about as miles from the first named
place. | was agreeabiy surprised in the up-
pearance and character of this river From
the representations IN the American prints,
had expected 10 find low, dirty stream of wa.
on passing up tho river, in steamboat and ca
noe, found that my mind had been abused
upon this SUBJ ect. more beautiful stream of
wat er never beheld. The stream is very ra-
pd, clear and pure. This water is OF u fine
flavor, and would be exceedingly palitab!c. if
it was cold; but the uniform hot weather rem
dcrs it, like everything else, very warm--thc
temperature Of the atmosphere bring from IS
to 80 degrees Of heat. The scenery along the
river is delightful. As you pass up the river,
your observation is attracted by high range
Of mountain lands on either side, covered with
Il lnxuriant growth Of mahogany, cocoanut,
Lannanas, plantain, wild sugar cane, cot.on
rice, &c. &C. III" *@3 Up
MARCH l5th--Parrots and Paroquets arc
playing among the trees as plentruIly as Black
birds in our cour try; monkies are yelling in
every direction and now and then you espie
an alligator stretched upon the bank, summing
himself. saw two onsmy journey, should
Judge tc be 10 or ~ feet long. There is an in.
sect in this country, called the gigger, which
Iimpcrccptibly and without producing the slight.
est sensation ofpain, worms itself deep into
the flesh, and after Il time, produces very bad
soar While passing up the river in an open
canoe, obliged, as was, to repose on the bare
ground, did not escape without visit from
ten or dozen of these secret and mysterious
foes. After locating themselves in the flesh,
they remain there, sometimes for two weeks,
without producing the least pain, or ia the
slightest degree pcrforating the skin, then a
severe inflammation commences. followed by an
acute pain, and copous swelling Of the parts
The process Of relief is by digging them out
with sharp pointed knife. Unless they are
taken out when discovered, they will. in time,
cripple you. Mr.. Augustus Coricll, John, and
myself, had an hour 4 work last evening IN dig.
gtng tfInIn out OF our
1 TCmained about q week al Gorgona--n small
entirely by nutivcs. During that week i made
u trip 10 Punama, at the request Of my compa.
ny, 10 secure; II possible, our passagc 10 Cali.
i fornIa, and ascertain wlletherit would be- adyis
sabe 70 attempt 10 got our provisions over the
land route. This Journey 81 ~ milos, was