The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-15

Pan.,a. ana ,hs yox.xs 20 san Francisco.

Panama and the Voyage 90 San Francisco.
Panama is but the skeleton of its former great
ness. Its walls and gates, once guarded by we'll
even the heavy cannon which lie scattered over the
battlements only to crafty the curiosity
of the traveller, who reads them the date of 1920
and recalls the stirring scene by which Castan
pride planted herself on these shores.
In its glory, Panama numbered so 900 inhabit-
ants, and possessed wealth hardly rivaled by any
city on the western shore Of America. Now her
population does not exceed $500, including the
suburbs; and the eight hundred priests which once
ministered in her churches have dwindled down to
thirty.
The Grenadians of small stature, and, so far
as i observed, weak, effeminate, and indoent
race having desire for the advancement of their
country's prosperity. In almost every house there
Is store, where a general assortment of trinkets
is kept. These stores are usually attended by fe-
males. The larger stores, however, are tended by
males, some of whom appear to be well educated
business men, but this remark can only apply to
those who partake largely of Spanish blood.
During my stay in Panama, visited school in
the suburbs, which was the only one i could learn
of. In this, nothing except reading and writing
was taught, and only few were allowed to learn
even these elementary branches. Even before pass
ing through Grenada, had noticed the superior
penmanship of some of the South Americans, and
had here occasion TO notice il quite frequently And
1t was curiosity to me to examine the books kept
by some of the Grenadian clerks, which showed a
taste rejecting great credit on them.
Among the places of interest about Panama, was
the burial ground for foreigners Some thirty years
ago several Englishmen died here, and were bu-
ried about half a mile from the city. A beautiful
large mulberry tree marks the spot. Beneath it,
enclosed by neat stone wall, are their graves. Just
back of these is the ground where the Americans
are buried The cholera now in the city, and
that disease with the Panama fever was thinning
out the ranks of the gold hunters But this grave
yard is one Of the most beautiful spots ever wit
nessed-a fit resting place for the traveller, who
dies far from his home and friends. A number Of
few of the persons who died had been sick more
than day or two.
witnessed the burial of Spanish infant. II wai
novel scene, and so bereft of that gloomy sombre
show which characterizes our buriais, that could
not help calling it a beautiful sight. The corpse
was drawn by two young men dressed in white
preceded by the priest. It was not enclosed in q
coffin, but was laid on board spread with white
CLOTH and neatly dressed in the richest white
satin, with wreaths of flowers about its head and
neck, and bouquets strewed over the body; and be-
hind it was carried table covered with every va
rety of flowers, which were to be placed in the
grave with the corpse.
A number of voices were singing in plaintivt
air while the priests chaunted the service. In THU
way the procession passed through the princiPa
streets of the city. II was rather unusual sight
having than ordinary show, as it the chile
of one Of the wealthiest citizens
After stay Of nearly two weeks in Panama,
left in the first vessel for San Francisco. number
of vessels lying in the bay, waiting to proceed
to San Francisco. The harbor of Panama is very
good or rather could easily be made 80, by building
pier out to deep water, The tide rises and fall
here twenty feet which causes the anchorage to b.
some distance from the town.
Several small and beautiful islands, known as tn
Perlas Islands, lie in the harbor opposite the town
and serve perfect shelter for vessels in the hea
West gales, although there is more frequently
scarcity than an abundance of wind here. TIL
pearl oysters formerly abounded in the bay among
these islands, and afforded extensive and lucra
| tive commerce. The mode of obtaining them wa
by diving, and many of the natives were employed
| in it. But numerous lives were lost the shark
were and still abundant here The divers arme,
with heavy knives, and many tales are told by tn
natives of encounters with sharks in the water
| Very few of these pearls obtained here.
On of these islands, about ten miles from tn
city, is the watering place for ships, where the pures
| water is obtained in any quantity Panama is sup
piled by water brought from three to five miles, a
there is no fresh water obtained in the city. 1t
brought in stone jars the shoulders of servants
and frkins on the backs of mules, and gives con
| slant employment to large portion Of the popula
| ton.
| OF the. voyage between Panama and San Fran
l cisco, will only say that, if traveller wishes I
| avoid one of the most tedious and worrying voy
/ ages, he will avoid sail-vessel between these tw
| ports The average length of passage is about fou
| times that of the steamer. ! was never more thor
| oughy convinced of the inutility Of sails in som
| seas, than was when found that at the end c
| twenty two days we were not six hundred mile
1 from our starting place-owing to the numerou
| Gains in the latitude of Panama, and also to tn
| head winds which prevail there great portion {
| the year-whie the steamer in that time woul
have performed passage of four thousand miles.