The New York herald., 1850-09-17
the port will become of some Importance, with Or


without the canal or transit.
After remaining az San Juan FOR about week, we
were very glad 10 obtain a buugay, or progue, to
take US up to this place; and having our fur
size, as very cheap for S65-the freight from
New York for the Same cases having been
about $50. Besides, we had to buy all our provi-
sions, and engage, for g. the services OF of the
is large launch, about 30 to 40 feet long, to s
feet wide and to 6 feet Deep dra wing about
feet OF water, propelled in the river by 10 ten
oars, and man at the helm, who styles himself
captain or patron, and TO whose orders the crew 10
subject The way they travel is not the quickest.
In the morning they stop al the first convenient
place they see to breakfast, and prepare, at
the same time, the dinner-this takes about
TWO to two and half hours at about 10 o'clock
they stop TO take bath; in the afternoon they have
a rest OF about an hour, and at o'clock they seek
the mode OF the stream to anchor for the night.
AT the beginning and end of each day, and after
crossing each rapid they pray in very long canic
In this way you lose about four hours out of the
twelve every day. The river itself can, in 30 far,
be compared 10 The Mississippi, that it's current is
fully as strong and constantly running down.
WARDS, and It's borders for the hrst few days
very Hat, yet The vegetation is as luxuriant you
can only see in the tropics. You pass inumerable
cedar, mahogany, indiarubber, and other precious
uees of stupendeus growth, covered all over with
creepers, some in full bloom birds of every i'm
aglnable color fly across, but at the time you
see the ugly alligator, basking in the sun on
some OF the banks, or lazily floating down the
stream and al some of the openings where you
stop to cook your breakfast, you may now and
then meet with some venemous snake, pretending
10 sleep, yet watching an opportunity to make a
jump. hear that their bite is considered here
incurable, and in San Juan | saw the graves of
three persons who had fallen victims. For the
canal, think that the river San Juan, minus
the rapids, OF which l shall mention to you
more directly, is well adapted, as from
the Castillo Eiejo to the Fort San Carlos,
at the mouth of the lake, there is, all the year
round sufficient water to float vessels, even OF 200
10 500 tons burthen. AS far as the remain
der OF the river is concerned, 1t might, per-
haps, be remedied by deepening its bed at the CO.
dorado river, and with the same earth to dam up
the latter named stream, which, according to ira
duon, is artificial, this opening having been con-
structed by the Spaniards to prevent the invasion
of the English. BY this means the waters of the
San Juan would naturally seek the deepest chan
mel, the Colorado in course of time entirely dry up,
and the first named river contain from IL to Is feet
of water at all times of the year, as much as might
be required for any reasonable sized steamer. Do
not forget that am uRofficisted in the secrets of
engineering, and excuse me if my reasoning is ero-
neous.
As TO the rapids, there are FIVE in number, viz -
The Machuca, Las Balas, FL lnhernitO, FL Castil-
10 Vieo, and Ell Toro la Vaca, Of which the
first, fourth, and fifth are the most dangerous, yet
easily 10 come over, with the exception OF the
Castillo Viejo. Here is high hill commanding
the river. on which the Spaniards had built forth
cation, now entirely delapdated and overgrown
with creepers; but our patron told us that the
mons yet remained there. The river forms here
curve, and either the rocks would have to be blown
up, and The bed OF the river deepened, or else one
steamer discharge, and the passengers aud cargo
transported by land for about quarter of mile,
TO another steamer that would be in waiting, and
proceed immediately TO San Carlos. Before COM
ing 10 the latter named place, you pass the Rio
Fro, called so on account of the coldness of its
water its borders are uninhablted except by In
dians, who, am told, do not permit the approach
of any white man.
light days journey brought us TO San Carlos,
where we were most kindly recsived and hospita-
bly, entertained by Don J. Tadlls the collector of
the customs After remaining there for about half
a day, masts were rgged, sails hoistcd, and
favorable wind brought us in about 10 hours TO
Granada, Of which my next will give you
description. with that Of Nicaragua, for hence /
am about TO start