The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-01-27
Thus Chagres is but a depot, and no
real business is transacted there.
~ THE RIVER JOURNEY. fa

THE RIVER JOURNEY.
The traveller, who tor the first time
in his life embarks on a South American
river like the Chagres, cannot fail to.
experience a singular depression oil
tspirits al the dark and sombrs aspecto of
the scene. In the first place, no find.
himself in a small canoe, 50 small
that he is forced 10 lay quietly in the
very centre Of the stern portion, in or.
der TO prevent il from upset,ing. The
palm leai .hatch over his portion Of The
boat. shuts out much of the view, while
his baggage, piled carefully amidship,
and covered with oiled cloths, is under
the charge Of his active boatman, who,
stripped TO the buff, with a long poll in
hand, exper,Iy propels the boat up
stream, with many a cry and strange
exclamation. The river itself is a dark.
mudd! and rapid stream; in some parts
quite narrow, and again al other points
II is from 800 to 500 yards wide. The
journey To Orures or Gorgona [irom 40
To so miles. is not a Icing one. A light
canoe, with two active boaimen and
but one passenger, will reach Cruces in
ten or twelve hours, whilst a heavier
one might require thirty.six hours to
accomplish the passage. The passen.
gel must take his provisions with him,
as none are 10 be had on the river, and
4 good water filter will be found "A great
convenience, us the river wafer is so
muddy that it is apt to derange the
bowels, unless filtered in some way be.
FIRE drinking it. In view Of the great
and sudden influx Of passengers to Cha.
gees at the present time, i. is impossi
be to say how they will all be accom-.
modated with canoes, and what the
river journey will cost. In former
times the supply Of canoes was quite
limited, and the charge depended on the
CELEBRITY with which the journey was
performed. A doubloon $50 was the
charge for a single passenger,
and from that up TO two, three, and
even four doubloons.
CRUCES.
He may now congratulate himself on
having achieved the most toilsome part
Of his journey, and but twenty.one
miles Of land route intervene between
and the glorious Pacific ocean,
is a small village, situated on II
Immediately on the bank Of the
river, which here is high and sandy.-
the other landing place, is a
miles below Cruces, and is like wise
, small village, very similar to Cruces. !
From these two points, both about the .
'ame distance from Panama, there are =,
to that city which unite about =
line miles from IT.. +,
JOURNEY ACROSS THE ISTHMUs. y
The usual method Of performing il {,
on horse or on mule. back, with anoth. a
II mule TO carry the baggage and a I,
nuleleer who acisas guide. The road u
, a mere bride path, and as the rains b
n the lsIhmus are very heavy, and h
here is more or less Of them all the year a
mud holesand swampy places v
o be crossed are very numerous. The q,
My safe plan for the stranger TO pur. VI
ue, is to carry his provisions with him. c,
lam, biscuit, sausages, preserved meats, a,
nd such kinds Of portable provisions. e,
re the best TO carry. After a toiIsome
quincy Of some eight or Ten hours, the Of
,vannah Of Panama is at last reached,
nd the sight Of the broad and gIit,ering II
acific Ocean, and the white towers Of 9.
,e Cathredal Of Panama, which are m
at the distance Of abo ut four miles 10
on the city, give the now weary "
assurance that his journey will 81
ION end; and another hours toll brings m
i'm TO the suburbs nf the famed n,
st s4 CITY OF PANAMA. 81
The city OF Panama is situated OH pl
10 shores Of tbs bay Of that name. II iii
contained tom 5000 to 1000 m
'habitants, and was a quiet still city, ~
here. during the day, nought but the vi
,und Of the onyen and church bells "a
the horses Of the ciuzens in iv
'eir greetings in the public squares, tn
Inch were all nvergrown with grass. tn
he, tinde carried or consisted in i'm.
'ri'ng dry goods frum Jamaica, for b,
% supply Of the Isthm-n,ans, the di
produce af Versgua, the ar
earl islands. the town Of Chariqui, Da. pr
d and their vicinnies. and the various NJ
lie towns. Goods also were sen. to- AZ
. porls, of Payta, in Peru. and Guaya. m
ID, in the Ecuador. The returns made an
T these goods, consistedef the produce ca
the isihmus. such rs gold dust. hides, M
dia rubber. pearl oyster shells, from an
hich the mother Of the pearl oil. COM
10 madel) ssarsaparilla, &c. AZ. be
culture is at a low mimi nm L.. LIZ q,