New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-02
MEMORANDA.
Voyage MP the Mnsdalcna.


In nv previous letter | gave you some no.
tions OF the position of four which are to
be. rival. for the trade of the Magdslena Nearly
month has since elapsed and am coo miles troa
the sea- loco fee, above ia level and mile above tie
head Of navigation. While my only wish is TO give
good and correct general ideas OF the country. still
am too little acquainted with men and things here to
safely draw my nferences. | therefore feel cora
PEELED, though reluctantly to throw my remarks into
narrative form.
Ny exit from the ship anI the commencement. Of my
travels were sudden took place about three in the
P NJ by engaging my passage from the pom TO Bsrran'
ouills The price was 81 50 payable in franc piece
40 shilncs) ard two dimes half francs, which are
the shings of this country our Spanish being Ut
terly refused shall be understood, then, whenever
gay dollar TO mean e;h, dimes or eight hall francs in
every case. Our boat was WIS bunsc, navigated by
three waermen bocas) one of whom bore the title OF
commander, Qslron) To my surprise found We
we're to set out Immediately and after hsstily arrang
ing my letters home took piece of meat snd some
seabread from the pantry the ship and ashore
Ny baggage had already passed the Custom-louse II
i not uncommon here to empty each trunk serious
natter with a trunk packed with instruments IN.
locked mine and raised the Tide but If they lookei in,
was but stenlthy glance. Only the day before had
.een the heads of both departments Of the Custom.
House passing goods by ripping open every bale knock
irc of the cover Of every box, tapping every cssk,
probing every -four barrel ard weighing every thing.
All this is required by law. The Controller laid the
weights the scales his sword and pistols lying by his
side while the Collector sat at table and recorded the
weight. No package passes unopened or unweighcd.
though after the Fitch Of the same kind they relax
little in thoroughEcss of examination No smuggling is
done here through the Custom House. What Is done,
IL done with the main hatch sealed and an officer
board doubt whether al his port any smugglingis
done is inconyenent account of the distance OF
the chip from the nearest houses.
We pushed OH from the Custom House wharf and
by applying the forked end of long pole to the
muddy bottom and the other end to the naked chest
where it joins the shoulder, the bcgas gave motion
to tue boat by walking towards the stern The rate
usy be considered nearly three miles hour.
W. econ arrived 1T Savsnilla u the Custom House
the bungo come up to the wharf, even when fully
loaded and drawing perhaps three feet Of water but
here we could only within eight feet Of the end
went on to the town for ripe pantsin to exc cut
my supper, but in vain. There was not in town.
The Grst shop went into the public school, kept
by a lad of Is or 16 There were about dozen
scholars-all boys. All wore clothes but one My
search for plantnns was not concluied-for
at first view Il II every house in town was
shop Then returned to the bungo To go on board,
Imust either wade 90 in boat, on the shoulders OF
amon chose the latter, and had my feet wet for my
pains The bogas had not yet appeared AT length one
of them came and told me that he could get me some
pan,ains. gave him sixpence. lie returned and
informed ne that he found he mistaken so he had
filed bottle with the sixpence.
Al length we pushed of. We went TO the east, and
even a little norhward Of east, now through narrow
channels now through broader expenses OF water,
having little or no current to contend with. All the
way on our left could be heard the Of the ocean
surf o which, further up from savanilla boats are
sometimes carried and lost We were in the middle Of
one of these broad places about 10 Pm when the an
Choir went down with sullen plunge and we went to
bed They allowed me the sail for my bed, pillow,
counterpane musketo and roof and ID served It's
purposes well. Bogas as unconscious Of musketoes
as n rhinoceros They unroed pieces of mating and
slept Oh them without covering. They wondered where
nv mating was 1t is exactly such as Is used for mat
ting focrs.
When walked il was still d0rk, but were moving.
First we were passing dark channel almost over
arched by trees At dawn il through floating
meadow Of tall grass weeds and splendid dubious dow
ere Later the ground grew irmer and the water more
shallow Then we met boat fast In the channel There
VIVA another boat behind ours Those Of the bogas OF
the three boats who had sny clothes on took them Oh
and all jumped into the water ndpushed the boats past
each other And thu" said the bogus continued
wedng and pushing the boat hGfa mile this Is con
strciion on the main artery Of the commerce OF New
Granada p We at length emerged from the narrow
channel into the real Magdaena, broad rapid and tur
bid like the Mississippi at St Louis, although eyon
ebove this part Of its waters had joined the ocesn
through chasms of the embankment, which proongsits
northern bank so carry the river many me along
the coast az a mlrace carries water along the bank
Of a river
Now our difficulties commenced. The poles could
not be applied TO the bottom Of the river. The edge
was OF aoeting marsh and drft wood. With poles,
hooks and rudder the problem was to hug the shore
and push up stream. Repeated efforts often were
necessary to pass projecting log. Hours were thus
consumed in advancing few miles OF capital steamboat
navigation At length we entered another narrow
channel, snd an hour or two brought us TO the
steamboat, mile below Berrsnqulla. Leaving there
nv baggage walked w to the town.
Practically speaking there is but one hotel in this
city Of coo nhabitsnts had here three days leisure
for observation / visited the Governor Ponce,
surerior man / called on the Prnst an old man who
,qhs for the return Of he blessed tune OF the kings and
eueh a government az that which Cuba enjoys, where
the people subject the Vleeroy and the Vceroy to
the Priesthood The church Is 90 spacious that u
never hall filed but altogether too small be assures me-
for The growing glory Of the place. IL has no seats In
IT, The organ is a curiosity. One row OF trumpet
shaped ppes projects horizontally from lis front while
those which are gided in most organs are here orns
monieG with human isee-sueh "a We see rejected
on tie back Of a spoon" all long and no wide tire
oues two TO work the bellows though the rest Of the
organ is OF psrlor size.
From the church went to the prison Il consists OF
spurious hall In which the keeper was making shoes,
h four large rooms opening into t. This example Of
49, ,,rtco al int nj