The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-06-27

Straits Of .MageHan-Passags OF Sal Pesse.saI dipa.
from Port 10 Port-.4rriuaL at Pa,Dnad.
Pacific Correspondence Of the N Y. Tribune]
U. MAIL STEAMER PANAMA.
Pacific Ocean. Lat 80 North
DEAR TRIBUNE-We are now within days
sail of Panama, where the number of our passen-
gers will be greatly augmented. last wrote YOU
from Rio Janeiro, which place we left on the 25th
Of March. Our passage through the Straits of Ma
gellan, although dangerous and difficult, was ac-
cOmplished in two days-we anchored but one
night. When about twO-thirds through the straits
we passed the brig Salto--she had been beating
in the Slraiis for twenly-three days. We passed
the schooner Hacksfaf just as she was entering
the Straits on the 9th of April. would advise
sailing vessels to keep out of the Straits, as mat
ter Of safety and speed.
Arrived at Valparaiso on the 18th of April VAL
paraiso is old Spanish town, of some 20 Geo in
habitanfs, and is only remarkable for the immense
quantities of fruit found there-apples, pears,
peaches, figs, CRAPS etc. | think the grapes are
the largest and finest ever saw. purchased half
hushel of large white grapes for fifty cents We
left Val paraiso on the 18th of April and arrived at
Caao on the 25th.
CaIlao is the seaport town of the Republic of
Peru. Lima, the capital of Peru, is about nine
miles from Callao. We spent five days at Lima
while our steamer receiving coal Lima is a
city Of great antiquity, and possesses many objects
oil interest to the traveller. A remarkable fact re-
speeding this region of country is that it
vegetation is sustained by the heavy dews. An
American gentleman who has lived in Lima for
twenty one years, told me he had never known it
10 rain there. The houses iG Lima nearly all
but one story high-a few of a story and half.
The walls of great thickness and strength. The
houses OF each block are all connected by con-
tInuous wall IN front. One reason why they adopt
this form of building is the danger from earth
qnakes. One hundred and four wears ago the whole
of Callao and a part of Lima were DESTROYED by an
earthquake. They usually experience several
shocks during the year, of greater or less severity
One of these shocks occurred during our visit and
it was said TO be the most severe one they had ex-
perienced for the past eight years 1t occurred
about O'Clock in the morning. The bells toled
and the people ran to the middle of the street. We
We're all little frightened but no one harmed. II
such shock had occurred In New York thousands
of buildings must have been thrown down.
Lima contains at present about S0,OC0 nhabi-
tants-formerly 100000. The form of government
Is republican, though such only in name. 1t is
purely Dictatorship The laws are trampled upon
with perfect impunity by the President. The
present President driven from the country
some four years since. but in few months gathered
an army of four hundred, and returned, subdued
ms opposers, and was recognized President. The
na'ionat pride and spirit are broken. There is no
hearty goodwill for the Government Public i'm
Provemens are all neglected, and each one follows
ms own fortune or pleasure. We visited the great
tathedral, which covers about two acres of ground.
IL was built more than two hundred years ago, and
on the most magnificent scale. shall not attempt
description OF 1t; but you may form some idea