Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-03-18


fever and disease, and the consequence is,
many die Some of them are lucky enogh
to reach California in ruined health, where
they linger few months Their deaths are
very improperly attributed to the climate of
that State, whereas it ought to be laid at the
door of Panama but in the first instance, to
the imprudence ofthe sufferers, who, through
bad advice, or other cause, neglected to pro-
vide themselves with through tickets.
There are but few objects of interest in
Panama. The churches are massive struc-
lures, bearing the marks of time, and like all
other buildings here, public and private, are
in sad state of delapidation and decay
The way in which some of the tower bells
are rung is to me somewhat novel. Immedi-
ately opposite my hotel is church, in which
service is continually performed. The rope
which formerly was attached to the bell wore
out, and sooner than get new one, native,
when the time arrives for mass, mounts the
tower, and hammers away at the bell with
billet of wood. When done, he descends, and
assists the padre in his administrations In
inches in the walls are images, as large as
life, of the Virgin Mary, the Saviour, and the
Apostles, all of them dressed in Spanish CO.'S
tume-the Apostles having boards and NOUS
taches of the true Spanish cut Ishould say
the Virgin is the favorite ofthem all, for she
is evidently treated to new frock, and a new
fan ottener than st. Peter, or the other apos-
ties, are to new breeches. am sorry to say
there is great want of piety among the ma
tiVes, and that they prefer visiting the cock
pit, or loafng in the streets, to attending their
churches. fear the pious monitions of the
reverend padres are thrown away on the
stiff necked and banana natives. This is to
be regretted, for there are churches enough
here, and priests enough to save the souls of,
all the people of Central America. If ru-
NOR does not belle these holy men, the padres
themselves sometimes engage in cock-fght-
ing; it is ungenerously reported of them that
they baVe the best cocks in the country, as
we'll as the most dangerous ones. The cock
pit of Panama is well worth visiting. I stroll
led in there on Sunday afternoon, and was
much interested in what | saw. There
were about two hundred natives present, each
with his cock under his arm. 1t bore re-
semblance 20 the Exchange at change hour.
Such Gathering and jabbering never heard
in my life. 1t was deafening. At length
match was made up, and ring was formed.
The gaffs or spurs were put on, and the fight
commenced. In about two minutes one of
the birds received the spur of his adversary
in the breast and "keeled over" dead as
herring Several other matches followed, a
bird being killed in each. The owner of the
victor in every case received the carcase of
the defeated one as a trophy. The gaffs are
very formidable weapons. They are made
of highly tempered steel, are about two and
half inches long, with both edges as sharp
as those of lancet. They are shaped like
scythe, and if directed properly, would cause
the death of man or an OK as well as that
of poor chanticleer. 1t sometimes occurs
that after a match is made the cocks will not
fight; but this does not often happen.
have mentioned that there are several
hundred men here without means to enable
them to reach California. am sorry to say,
that inhuman jokes are continually practiced
on them. | will relate one which occurred
yesterday, as a sample. Some fellow posted
a written notice in different parts of the town,
that number of destitute emigrants, provi-
ded they were active men, would be allowed
to work their passages to San Francisco, in
sailing vessel, and be paid $40 per month;
application to be made to Captain Martin, at
Cocoa Grove---a hotel about an eighth of
mile from the city. AS you may well sup
pose, hundreds of the poor fellows rushed to
Cocoa Grove to see Captain Martin, and if
possible to get berth. The man who as
sumed the name Of Capt. Martin, was in at
tendance, and received them. In reply to
their applications for an opportunity to work
their passages, he said he would have none
but smart, and active men, and he would re-
quire proof of the smartness of those he
should select He wanted to see how the
applicants he said, could climb, and directed
them to ascend the cocoa nut trees close by.
AT it they went, forty or fifty men at time;
some falling down when little way up and
others making fruitless efforts with their feet,
knees, thighs and even toe nails, to reach the
the top, which they could not possibly do,
the trees being so slippery. fit were not
for its wickedness, the joke would have been
well reIished
BeGwJM-As the eagle dips his
u I L r. /