Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-07-18

Battery, &c.
PANAMA, June, %, 1850.
DEAR TINES :-Apoogizing for the prolix-
ty of my yarns, | beg to inflict another upon
you and your readers, which will close up nv
epistle from this locality. Depend upon it l
shall quit Panama, disease and jiggers per-
mitting, with good a relish as ever one poor
fellow enjoyed in this mundane sphere. 1t is
one of the best places to go away from to be
found on the continent But more of this here
after.
have not remarked upon the birds, animals,
fruit, &C., abounding, or supposed to abound
on the isthmus. From Chagres to this city
one Is delighted with the numbers and CAV
plumage of the feathered tribes. The various
species of the parrot tribe predominant, and at
every moment any number of them may be
seen among the branches, or flying through
the air. One thing have observed however,
that while the plumage of the birds is bright
and gay, their notes are far from being melo-
dous. Now and then a sweet note is heard
but generally the singing birds would do well
to take lessons in music ere practising before
Northern audiences. | have also observed that
the flowers are almost entirely destitute of
odor and though beautiful to the eve atstimes,
they do but little to perfume the air 1t would
be real luxury TO listen for a moment to the
deep, full melody of New England boboink,
or to feast the eve and olfactories upon down
east flower garden.
Before leaving home l had been kindly ad-
vised TO refrain from eating the fruit of the
isthmus, which, it was affirmed, would be
found in great profiIsion and of the richest quail
ity- had also been told that all along the
river and road, monkeys would chatter and
grin among the branches of the trees, from
which they would suspend themselves by their
tails making the woods ring with their hoot-
ings and yells. l was however. amused in
noting the sober facts as they opened them
selves before u.s. and could but smile as re-
fected upon the well intended caution ofwhich
| had been made the recipient From Cha
gres to Panama not monkey was seen, not
even a twist of the tail was revealed to the eye.
and metamorphosed into elephants; for ii is
dead sure that these latter animals abound
all over this region; all descendants legiti-
mately of the animal of which so much has
been said and written. As for the caution in
relation to fruit, | can assure the anxious
friends in the North that it is entirely work
of supererogation, and all the sympathy ex-
pended in this direction is but loves labor lost.
There is not fruit enough on the route to pro-
duce a large amount of disease even if eaten,
while the quality of what little there is, is so
wretchedly bad that very little fear need be
cherished of any ones partaking of it. A few
cocoa nuts and an occasional plantain are seen
in the hands of the natives, but it is rare, very
rare that any thing of the kind presents its
temptations to the eve of the traveller. One OF
our party suggested that the monkeys having
eaten all the fruit, had left for parts unknown.
But if the isthmus is free Of monkeys and
fruit, it is well supplied with ants and Lizards.
OF the latter | have spoken in former paper.
The ants, small sized red insect, are in, over
and on every thing. Their hills may be seen
scattered in profusion all over the land. Beat
these to the nearest green vegetation, and the
busy creatures by millions are seen going and
returning constantly, the former empty, the
latter laden each with his piece of green leaf
ming birds are often seen in this region; also
swallows, sparrows, and a variety of small
birds similar to those in the Northern states.
l was surprised at the scarcity of mosquitoes
and flies as came over the isthmus. do not
recollect having been troubled by them IN a
single instance. An occasional mosquito
would serenade our party i'll the night time,
but as the sound served to break the monotony
and to remind one of similar sounds at home, |
had no particular wish to do the intruder in
Jury There seems to be plenty of common
horse flies at the hotels and other eating places
but so far as poisonous flies and mosquitoes are
concerned, | have found myself agreeably dis
appointed. | am aware that this may be
deemed small matter to make mention of in a
newspaper article, but as / wish to present to
the reader who may chance to travel this way
a full view of the annoyances and discomfort;
of the journey, as well as of the pleasant
scenes and agreeable surprises which will mee
his eye, do not feel at liberty to pass with en-
tire silence that class of insects which possess
so much power of forcing themselves upon the
attention of the weary wayfarer.
The road from Gorgona to Panama is the
route travelled in the dry season, which usual
ly continues from December to April, Thi:
road is said to be comparatively level, and free
from rocks and lodges. During the rainy sea
son-from the latter part of April until the las
of November, or even later, the tide OF trave
Is via Cruces The road from this miserable
place, twenty-five miles to Panama, is an ole
spanish road, paved in the day of its glory
WIN round stones, considerable portion o
the pavement remaining in tolerable state O
preservation The pavement was originally
about seven feet wide, and must have been lait
with much labor, skill and taste. This is saic
to be the best, and indeed the only public road
in the whole republic of New Grenada: ant
surely, when citizen from the model Repub
lie. especially from New England, has passed