New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-15

siege, IN light bnngo, and win stout creF OF
ten men, vss six days In passing Tom San Jan
| 20 Ssn Carlos. The men labored hard at the oars
and setting poles from daylight until dak each
/ day. We passed other bungos which hal left
three days before Us and our trip was regarded as
one Of extraordinary rapdity for the season. From
these facts ides msy be formed of the strength
| Of the current Below calculates the fall OF the
/ stream at twenty inches per mile, except at tho
various rapids. where II is more
/ The banks o. the river are totally inhabited,
nor 10 1t known that any one has penetrated the
country to any considerable distance in either d.
rtotiCn. small garrison is stationed at the Gas.
! hilO Pttjo about 80 miles below the L AXE at the
/ RoPtdeS del Caytalo. There is 10 doub; that thu
eutire region is eminently fertile, and capable Of
producing all the fruits and staples OF the tropics
| in the greateat abundance.
BulOw descended the river In July, whe1 the
water was at its highebt stage. His bong was
! hty feet long by nine broad, aud had ifeight Of
4 five tons ara thirteen persons, tho boat drawing
about four feet Of water his notes, 50 far as they
were collrmed BY my own obsers atoms are en-
bodied in the fnbJoined paragraphs.
The Fortof San Carlo AZ the head oil the rlVer'
is a collection Of some fifteen or twenty cane b1hI
houses, occupied by perhaps one hunaren PeSP,e.
Of late wears been allow we'd TO fall into decay ine
\ potition is a strong one sud the old WORKS mgr.
soon be put in condition to control tne emf y,
the Lake email body OF troops are ~ 5ln'a I
mere
! by the Epglsh, are the OnCeis Vi Wv
'''' Ths Water of the lake. opposite thu Fort and
fronting the opening Of the San juan Is compare
lively shallow, not exceeding si5nt or 'eH lee' ~
depth, with mud bottom for the olAtance Oh ammo
and upward from the shore.
Near this point the Rio Fro Cod river comes
ia from the south. 1t is large stream and Is rep
resented as having two fathoms Of water Tor dis
lance OF forty miles from It's mouth. trioe OF In
disUs, called the GuGtos0s," live upon lts banks,
who refuse all intercourse with the whites, and
permit no ipgress to their territories Some ex-
pl0raiioIs were undertaken up this river by Don
4. SaleZar, commondsnt Of San Carlos, in the cary
part OF the year lsl9 bat he attacked by these
Indians, severely wounded, and compelled 70 re-
turn
The opepipg of the San Juan is probably three
buudred yalds and upward broad, which width the
stream maintains with great uniformity 10 the Rio
Savslos, distance Of twenty miles For this ex-
tent the current is slight; according to Baron Bu
low, not exceeding one and a hHt miles the hour.
The channel ia wide, and the depth OF the water
from three TO four fathoms. The banks are low,
and the back country fiat and swampy. Some
sluggish streams come IN from both norm and
south, but they are a.mosi hidden by the owe hang
ing trees.
At the Rio Ssvalos commences the Hapides del
Toro which are about three .iourths OF q mile long.
The water, OF course, varies IN depth with The dill
ferent seasons OF the year. AT the time OF my
passage, il was certainly for most OF It's extent,
less than fatbom. The banks upon both sides
are firm and high, and the palm gives place to
other and larger trees BulOw gives the current
at ls0 to 200 yards per minute, but esteem u
something more
From this point TO the Rapiles del Castillo ia six
miles, The intervening banks are higb, ADD the
land well adj pied for settlement st tho Rapids
considerable ridges come down the river upon both
sides. Upon the point Of that on the south bank
is situated the ruins Of the old castle Of San Jaau
now called the Castillo VisjO.' The eminence
upon which il stands resembles hat Of Chapute-
pee and the ruins are still massive aud imposing.
At the base Of the hill the remains OF tho water
batteries. The works completely commanded the
river. This position was captured by the English
in leo. Lord Neson served In subordinate ca
pRcity 10 the expedition. The rapids here are shor.
but swift, better deserving the name OF falls than
rapids. Barges cannot generally ascend loaded
When they have heavy cargoes, part Of tho same
has to be removed and carried past the falls. The
boats are then tracked or pushed up against the
current by main force. Ny barge waI upward OF
of two hours in getting "a many hundred yards
These rapids, without artificial m, dilcation, would
preseut an obstacle to all kinds Of navigation 1t
might be made practicable with some trouble for
small steamers light draugbts, such as are used
upon some Of the small westerarivers.
Three or four miles below the Hapides del Cas-
to are The Rapides los Valos and MicO, which may
however be regarded as one. TIE current here Is
eco or 300 yards per minute the bottom rough and
rocky, and navigation in bsrges difficult. Tne wa
ter O0es not appear to be more than from Tour to
ak feet deep, TO. any considerable distance Tne
banks corr spond with those above the castle.
To the Rapides Of the Machuca THE present lin
it Of The English claim, the last longest and
worst the river is deep and free from distractions
These rapids, says Buloy, who is disposed to
repreEent the capabilities OF the river in the most
favorable light are worst Of all the water is
more broken from running over rocky bed.
Stones end rocks project above the surface for a
distance of GOO yards and great attention is neces
sary in passing the channel"
From this point to the San Carlos, the river 10
very fine, the banks high and studded with bea1ti.
iu trees. The current is regular, bat the depth OF
water variable. Bulow states the depth at from
two 10 six fathoms. The San Carlos lie large
strean and may be ascended by buDgos to the dis
lance Of i or 20 miles.
From the River San Carlos 10 the Serapiqui the
banks are good, though not so elevated as they
are higher up the stream. The current is strong,
but even and the depth from 10 to 20 feet in the
channel. The Seraplqui is navigabe tor canoes TO
the distance OF 20 or 80 miles.
To the divergence of the Colorado river is dis
lance of thirteen miles the banks preserving their
elevation to the divergence OF the Juanilio from
which point they become very low. Tue current
Ia regular and the depth, according 10 Balow, from
ten 10 thirty feet. The Colorado witndraws large
BODY of water from the river, VIII %, however con.
tibues to preserve very nearly its original width to
the port Of San Juan The channel for the remain.
ing distance is studded with low islands, covered
generally with gamslote The depth IL very vMia-
bic. ranging from four and five to ten or twelve |
feet the bottom gravelly. In the dry season, bun
COS pass with their loads with difficulty.
Ii has been suggested that the channel of the
Colorado was cut or enlarged by the Spsniards, |
under the Empire, to prevent the ascent of hos
tile vessels, but the suggestion is simply absurd |
The delta has existed very nearly in its present |
form and condition, without doubt for many censu.
ries The loss OF water by the Colorado has been |
at 2s 600 cubic wards per minute in the