Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-06-28

seizing your dipper IN one hand, anil a
piece ofbiscuit and salt junk in the 9TH
er, you ascend the stairs, and finish your
meal whcre you eau breathe easier, AMI
where you are not in danger Of disop'
pea,ing like ice before n summer SUM-
Imagine yourself partaking Of that COM
mon luxury terme butter, when you
uro obliae' to dip il ou, ola pan as you
you'll soup, the heat having reIuceL il
to perfect liqui anl after low suck
cxpcrimcn ?. perhaps your afIor woul'i
bu dampenei, ns indeed, mine has been,
if you entertain any idea Of lraYersins
the same course. ..
But the mos. trying scene 10 be en-
counlcrcl is perhaps in the dry season,
whsn ,lOs. who have to come by THIS
route have TO cross the ls,hmus, an pro
Gee ling up tho river San Juan. enter the
lake. The passage up the r.v { duriLg
the present season is very poor, as the
water is low an consequently navi -.
ton very difficult. Many times the pas.
sen:..rs h' d to jump into the water when
the boa, STUCK upon bar, and, by q
uni,cI exer,ion, succee lei in le.Hn! her
along. Had no, the passen ers assisted
such occasions. by liz citing the boat,
by remov,u. ;@e boss0sc' or agreeing to
~ I.,,.l g, ,hs n. "ks hni traversins
the woods, our passas q wou,. nave 'ee"
much retarded. On one occasion tho
passengers were landed on the opposite
side Of the bank with the exception Of
the ladies and few who were exempt on
account Of ase) and were compelled TO
;.ovel through the woods about TWO miles
and scrh n tramp may we never again
be obliged 70 take, for all the 'ramps We
have yc. experienced this indeed is the
one We will be likely Ice longest 10 re
member. Our r,al lay lhrou.@ q dense
wool or lhlckat, unlike any We have ev'
or before ,ravcrscd, with brcrs ana run.
ming vines SO thick as almost to rctar !
our progress altogether; broken mbs
lccayed roots, ana oher inpclimenls
lay in our way, and, to ALL TO our dis.
comfluIc, the lrounl was moiS, from CO.
pious showers, so that W.T., every step we
made deep impression; but, remember.
ing the oil adage "whcre there's a will
there's way" by our cxcr,ions We were
enabled to proceed on our journey.
After crossing the lake and lanlins at
Virgin Bay we mounted our mules and
proceeded TO cross the l2 miles of lanl
travel, the heat being in,olerable; hut
we were favored in one partcular,-the
road beng in fine con li,ion. After n
te lious ri.le Of a about three hours arriv.
el on the bank whirh commands view
Of the Poci6c in the distance, anil al
'ens,h Ian led 1t the termination of our
land rou,n-San Juan Del Sur. This
town is composed Of n mixcl popula.
tion of natives nm whites, who arc ia the
habit Of prac,iciny all kin Is ofex,o odions
on those who happen to be cast nm'n$
them. As there ha, been no protection
to American citizrns on this sile (as in
fact, there has been none on either sile
the Isihmus) those who have come on this
route have been severely Aeeced, without
any IN ans Of relress. The passengers
on boarl the Star Of the West cams to a
unanimous conclusion that one Of these
acts ofextortion they woul not submit
10. II has been the custom for the keep
srs Of the principle lying houses to hire
boa,mcn 10 take the passen .ers from the
beach to the steamer in waiting, AMI &c
charge The sum Of 81 90 hea !, with thu
addition Of 50 cents for baggage, this ser
vice the passengers consilerel !, the com
pany Of right ou ht 10 perform, an wen
to the agent in ho ly AMI demanded
The agent offered the boa,msn $l,OO ,
head, which they ,efusel. The sloop o
: war Portsmouth was applied TO, who's
commander promised aid il requircl, II
! protect the passengers, as the agen, on
clu'Icd to rc.ship the passengers with th
:. boats beloneing to the steamer. As wa
, cxpecte the natives became cxasperate,
! and it was feared they woulI commi
: some act Of violence on The company
boats, in consequence Of which the soo
Of. war mannel two boats On sent then
= TO the shore TO protect the passen ger
= when embarking in the boats. Takin
: offence at the threatening appearance q
: the slo"p Of wars boats,the Reveille VIII
beat, anil the native sol liers rushel t
II their barracks, AMI then forme in posi-
!. tim on the summit Of hill commanIin
9 tho harbor. But not charge escape
(. their rusty weapons, as they new wha
= they had 10 encounter'h they fed