The Nevada journal., 1852-07-10
WEDNESDAY, JULY z, 1882.
INCIDENTS OF PASSAGE
No IL


st Torniquilla, the point of leaving the
railroad, the real difficulties of the voy-
acer commence. Here he takes to the
boats, under charge Of Jamaica negroes,
to navigate the shoal and rapid Chagres,
to Cruces. Every thing is now confu-
sion. You contract for boat for dozen,
20 after your baggage, and when you
return, find the boat showing off with
another party. Perhaps you get part
of your baggage aboard, when some more
tempting offer starts off the boatmen,
and you are left behind with the re-
mainder. Thus it occurred with us.
The boa.men engaged for five dollars
each to take ten of US to Cruces. Get
ting baggage from the cars was work
of time, but it was passed out into the
boat as fast as it was got at. When
about half was aboard, another party
prevailed on the patron, who had as
much idea OF honesty as an ape has OF
courtesy, to start off with them. Pretty
soon we got the rest of our baggage into
another boat, started in pursuit, and
rescued the fxings."
Up the river boats can only be urged
with poles, and that at speed of about
two miles per hour. The water is not
moro than two feet deep upon an ave
rage, and rushes ON to the ocean with
speed truly astonishing. So shallow a
river and so rapid current are anoma-
lies only explained oy the nature of the
banks, which continually crumble into
the stream, widening and filing its
channel. At some points on the river
are miniature maelstroms, in which
boat not skillfully managed is caught,
whirlod round and down stream Snags
of all kind continually occur, and many
a bcat is over set by contact with them.
A few months ago the entire mail for
the Atlantic States got washing from
such an accident. The river is draped
on each side with most beautiful ever
green, far Exchanging the water, the
dwelling place ofinnumerab!e paroquets'
monkeys, lizards, sc.
1t was ten A. NJ. when we left Torni-
quilla, and after tedious experience, we
arrived at Gorgona ut nine in the even
ing. Now that the road from Gorgona
to Panama is mostly closed, the former
ceases to be the great depot for trans
portation, and consequently wears dull
aspect 1t is simplya stopping place
for the night for boats bound further
up. Some passengers attempted to force
their way over the Gorgona road, and
arrived at last at Panama, in woful
plight.
At four next morning, we started for
Cruces, six miles farther up The river
was now more rapid, at times running
between prominent cliffs of rock. 1t
took five hours to complete our trip,
when at last we reached the old native
village, we'll known as the terminus of
tho old buccaneers paved road At
Cruces mules were letting for twenty
dollars each, and baggage was charged
for at the rate of twenty cents per
pound-twice as high as two years ago.
In an hour more we were travelling
a la nula over the most execrable road
ever tolerated in civilized country
The mud frequently bathed our girths
and bespattered US from head to foot as
the mules floundered about. In some
parts the road runs over granite which
is indented by the constant and regular
tread of the mules to the depth of six
inches. Occasionally the road descends
into narrow gorges, then rises abruptly
over activities. Loose stones make the
footing insecure to all aLimale save
mules, which doubtless, on the principle
that fortune favors fools, seem to have,
with all their stupidity, the good luck
to be always right side up. 10 add to
our comforts, about noon rain began to
pour in torrents, while the thunder
rolled among the hills most sublimely.
at dark we were five miles out OF Pana-