Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-03-01
Prom the Washington Union
CALIFORNIA CORRESPONDENTS.
SAY FRANclsco, Novs'1O, 1850.


10 the Editor Of iAs UniOa:
q 10 compliance with Pruhise, made through
friend, propose. in series Of letters, To civ,
YOU reliable information on the various sublrct
Of travelling to, and the resources aud PoUulA
lion Of "El Dorado"
As to the trip, nothing Of the little incident
which are Of personal interest to myselC-anC
which would be to my warm friends-will be
given, but only such matters IS will be Of ser
vice to future emgrants.
In the first place, am bound strongly 10 con.
denim the regular mail line. The aecommodA
ton is very bad aud that line is, as Ear a.
could sec or hear, negligent Of the comfort aud
convenience Of passengers while the opposition
lines are all clvility aud attention. Yet, in de-.
spite Of this, strongly advise all smigranIs 10
take the Rowland Il Aspinwa lima, and Tor this
reason: Their steamers, althoagA comis' tess.
are safe, and their departures spuhctual as Low.
ers to the hour sworn" so tina, one having .
through ticket is sure Of speedy passage. Aud
hundreds have died on the lslhmus of levers COZ.
'racted by delays occasoned by having tickets
on steamers, which were absent when the bold.
ers arrived at Panama. Soulherners, however,
will always do we'll by taking tho steamer Ala,
bama from New Orleans 10 Chagres, with a
through ticket from Panama. For the ls,hmus,
q few bottles Of the essence Of coffee, and bran.
| dy, il desired, are all that one nc 4 take ; and
you should, by all means, bring as little baggage
as possible. Necessary clothing, an umbrella,
and India rubber overcoat, should make the out.
iii. Trunks Of any reasonable size and weight
can be trans ored. bu, il weighing over one
hundred and twenty pounds are subject TO fifty
per cent. additional freight. The expenses on
the lsthmus are far greater than has been sup.
posed, and elniganis especially ladies--are put
to great Inconvenience. My wiIe came with
me, and am prepared to give advice TO others.
If any lady intending TO visit California should
chance 10 see this letter, | advise her first TO
make up her mind to regard the natives Of New
Granada Just as che would so many wild beasts
to be offended at nothing belonging TO their pc.
cullar manners; tor she will find them 10 pro.
sent a rude picture Of Adam and Eve, with their
tg lcaves--oniy the fg icdrss iefi out For CON.
fort, let her take but little baggage, and have
that well secured in India rubber. On leaving
Chagres, make II special contract, If possible,
against remaining all night at Go,oon-a place
abou, ten miles above Chagres, very agreeable
to II native, and equally detcs,able 10 an Ameri-
can; and without special bargain the natives,
arriving even in the morning will insist on re.
naming for the night. EIcep, coffee, the fare
on the lsthInus is not good, yet quite bearable.
At Cruces in the rainy season, Gorgona In the
dry season, the boats are leA and passengers
take mules. And here give my fair country.
women word oil advice. Neither comfort, nor |
safety. nor womany decacy are on the side Of
riding asride, but good side saddle can DO pro-
cured; and after seeing many who have tried
each plan, can say, without hesitation, that the
side saddle IL both more safe and more cOIntona-
bls and either way is preferable 10 the palan-
keen. The dress for the lsIhmus should be
Turkish nowsers. with dress coming n little
below the knee, and strong leather shoes, a large
and long gloves, and, above all
other things, stout heart. Thus equipped, !,
lakes about three days to get up the river, where,
suggest. lady should remain one day, TO let
he baggage, which moves slowly, e., ahead,
and to secure an early start next morning. II
ook my party little over seven hours TO ride
rom Cruces to Panama.
The history Of the ls,hmus is as wild and start
ing as an east. Tn romance. Chagres, which
IS Of all earth the most filthy and detestable lit
lie village, was once laid out tor magnificent
;iiy. The old tort is built ateT fashion and on
scale that is truly wonderful. More than two
hundred years ago il was taken by the English
Ducaneer Morgan, who made the toad TO Pa
lama, e1cep. about lonr miles that was construct.
ID by Bolivar, and which remains a solid monu.
ncnt of his genius. About five miles from Cha.
gres, and on road that an American would al
first sight pronounce impossible, even to foot.
man, high on the mountain. we found two an.
,hors OF immense size tradition ascrhes their
being there to Morgan. Panama was twice RI |
led by this daring corsair. The population is a
very degraded one. Their form Of government
mas The name OF a republic, bu, is scarcely a
at all but the little that is Of 1t Is
IN lily constructed aristocracy. ] asked many
latiyes the name OF their President, (Lopez,)
,ut none Of them knew The popular vote, as
I is called. is confined to 4 lew large properly
loders, who elect a college Of electors, and then
ecl a President, members Of Congress, &c.
heir courts are caricalure and q mockeTy. ,
On leaving Panama, several iiereslng points
re touched before reaching this place, which
vas one Of the last points found and settled by
be Franciscans. who, lost in wonder and ADM.
alton at the extent and beauty Of this bay and
arbor, named it after their great patron saint.
bovc all comparison, this is the finest harbor in
be world Ten thousand sail Of ships .oi,the>lin
ould ride at auchor in salty without difficulty.
he city has about thirty thousand citizens, and
J built in manner tina. would pu. credence TO
severer test than desire. There are now
bout four hundred and fifty sail in port.
Buildings are springing up as funder the inHu.
nee oil Aladdin's lamp. The Union Hotel pre-
enis an example OF energy and enterprise above
II praise. Messrs. Selover, Mipdeton, u Joice.
40 proprietors, cut down tent from the ground
n which this magnificent hotel stands; in twenty
ight days part Of the house was opened. Ills
splendid ire.prooi brick building; and would
carcely be believed by my own mother il shou Id
i've faithful description OF the furniture and table
hey keep. have obtained bill of fare for
D days breakfast and dinner aud enclose them;
which please insert az the best manner OF giving