New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-21
TIE ISTIIMUS.
Chsgres- Gorgona HoteI-Crossing- Affairs La
Panama.


! Nothing occurred to mar our pleasure but the
death Of an infant, with brain fever. We had
seven ladies' and seven children on board. Ga our
arrival at Chagres, at daylight, Oh Friday morning.
the 18th inst. the passengers were all transferred
to the steamer OrUs, in the ships launches which
occupied nearly the entire day. We were all landed
| at Chagres, on the american slde as It IS called.
Almost the first thing which attracted our atten-
ton on landing was a rouettetable under The front
stoop of the Taylor House Here las the proprie.
Tor informed us) was California, "only in better
way Capt. Taylor informed me that he hired
out the ground room for this table SAY, eight feet
square) for go per day.
We were about twenty four hours in going from
Chsgres to Gorgona. Oar party consisted of six
gentlemen and three natives, for our boatmen. For
the most Of our baggage, we hired canoe and two
natives aud sent our colored cook to look after
it, though sailing in company with us. The two
boats, together, cost as slOO. l would here give
word Of caution TO all travellers California bound
Stick to your boats. Do not allow any excuse of
low water or persuasons Of any kind TO induce you
to leave your boat TO take, as the natives say, a
short cut to Gorgona Tor three miles by land to save
ten by water.) Hundreds of passengers have been
thus induced for exercise 10 tighten their boats
to walk, been lost in the woods and mountains and
obliged to travel fifteen or twenty miles over the
worst mountain paths ia creation; kept out all
night exposed to the rain and wild beasts one man
had bis legs and clothes badly torn by tiger two
weeks ago; and after all obliged TO hire native
guides, for 81 or SO, TO pilot you In to GOrgo1a.
Many OF the passengers were thus worn out and
exhausted, got sick ana some Of them entirely I'M
fitted for their journey overland from Gorgona to
Panama.
As you enter the town on the left is large build
ing Of rough boards say 1875 feet long, 30 feet wide
two stories high, called the Railroad House; here
is bar, dining room, roulette tables and other
gaming tables and apparatus all In full operation
ON the same floor; one large sleeping room on the
second story TO accommodate 100 dodgers or more.
The writer looked in, as he was in search of MS
supper, bat hungry as he was passed on, Disguised
with the sight. We ordered supper at the Hotel
Francaise,' kept by Spaniard, where we found
quiet in an old stone house covered with tile, and
after satisfying the cravings of our inner man on
French coffee and baked beans, for which we paid
Ocents EACH returned 10 look after our com panions
whowith hundreds ofothers, took the woods. Not
finding them, we hired covered boat for so cents,
placed Gil our luggage, "blew up" air mat
tresses and prepared for conpaniOns they
more fortunate than scores OF others, got in before
6o'cock with guide, but entirely used up by
eat, blistered feet, &c. Next morning, after much
trouble, we secured nine mules and horses for sl25
for our party and baggage, three of our number
prefeuing to walk to Panama. We were ready
for a start at / o'clock, A NJ. Those mounted rode
Mexican ponies-Spanish saddles, no brides, but
the writer had horsehair halter. The road per
mtted the first hour to trot and galop our horses
which we did, followed on the full run by three
mueteers sent by the respective owners 20 take
charge Of their property. Six ladies and six chill
dren crossed with us, the former wore trousers and
rode horses gentlemen fashion, while the children
were all carried on the backs Of natives
We were just six hours riding from GOrgona 70
Panama, distance of about 80 miles, passing
one lady and her father who left six hours before
Us. She rode pony, and had Spanish side sad.
die; and she told me she came through without
fatigue accident. The six ladies' before referred
to, remained over night at the halfway house, and
arrived here on the evening of the Sec ld day.
The muleieers came the whole dis ance in com
pany with us, and entered the gates OF the city
prepared 10 take charge Of the horses. The ladies'
and children, on entering the city, were cheered
by the Americans We lodged Tor the night at the
New-York Hotel, " oh is probably the best hotel
IN IL clty-Which IS saying little in It's lavOrS2 80
per day, NewYork currency. The first floor or
entrance, answers either for men or mules second
story is the bar-room the third floor is paror bed
rooms, dining saloon aud kitchen, all in one. or
rattle al open and expos ed to view.
Gambling houses are here in great numbers, per
haIs dozen on one block, open night and day
lie Ibeater is in rurs-no root ii, and yet
pays OF some kind are enacted In it almost every
night. Almost every house is small store on the
first floor, Kept by native women, generally very |
small, and everything most exorbitantly high; !
and 1T is almost impossible 10 buy anything bat /
fruits, that is tit 10 eat; even Vans, the native /
potato cost at The rate OF say 81 s5 per bushel
Our party DISK hire an upper room, unfuraished,
49, 60 Al.
each per day-dO our own cOOAIng-pay dime for,
say three gallons Of water, which is brought into
The city on mules, four jars EACH or on the shOul-
iers Of men, or heads OF women. AL the meat is
ut into strips and dried it is filthy and dirty.
lce, which is the principal food Of the natives is
&C. per h. and poor at that. Coffee 4Oc per TO-
'urued and grOund-3Oc burned and zoe raw
-ges four for dime poor white sugar lJc per
, native suSsr-house molasses, 81 gallon can
les. lJc. each, &c &c.
wanted to buy half pound Of nails, they re.
ned: Z" We don't retail goods" Bought pound,
Wholesale paid Soc for them and when
Weighed out to me the store keeper used half
ound weight and then took off the weight and
lied up the opposite side OF bis scale, thus max.
lg his pound.
Many persons are enfeebed by their long aud
sulous walks and tramps over the mountains
ONE are home SICK and some few were sick when
lcy ieit nome. Some, who started with US in the
resent Oily are determined to return home TO day
svng seen the elephant. One young man sold his
eket IN steamer New Orleans, and bought a ticket
the snip Georgia, and paid 500 for it, He started
nthe New Orleans on Friday, and gotdownthe bav
we've miles to the Island OF Toboso, where he for.
eited his ticket and returned, bound to Ney.York
% We nave one gentleman from Michigan. one I
ON Jefferson 60, and one from Cayuga Co. back.
ng up and returning, while there is company Of
even from Western New'York who wish thew :
ere home again bat fesr thu 49,. ..1..~y. | {
aeir friends, and so hold on 'N''' VI
The city is healthy to those who take care ~ !
themselves. '' " c
Aud now, Messrs. Editors, here is a wide md
n open door for an Evangelical Colporteur and
i'ssIonary-some Spanish tracts Wewant some :
ody TO come here, where, in his own hired house,
or own American people may assemble 70 wor
ID fhar lafhar' u l,l,d H., |, -