Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11
THE IsTHMUs OF DARIEN.

We have been favored with the following Letter
from an Officer of the U. S. ship Cyane on servic,
with the nter-oceanic exploring expedition, which
will no doubt interest many Of our readers:
|, CALEDONIA BAY, JANUARY 81, 1854
eve are lying snugly under the island Of oro which
covered with luxuriant growth Of trees and shrubs
presents not only very pleasing view but ON imposing
barrier to the breaking Of the Close to us lies
little isle, covered with fine cocoanut trees loaded with
excellent fruit which have chrisened Dobbn Island
Another near it, little outside, call Holins's Island
Opposite us, upon the main land have raised
veyng signal upon q mount which have honored with
the noble appellation of Mount Vernon. Our parties
have been indusrousy employed cutting roads through
jungle and woods planting signals for surveying pur-
poses upon different points and clearing elevated points
for stations in which operation they feed immense
valuable trees among which the India rubber very
numerous.
The harbor Of Caledonia is very extensive. 1t lies W.
BY n and E. by s., and is about six miles in length and
from mile to mile and half in width 1t is protect
ed from the by the Island de Oro an island with
upon 1t of about three hundred feet in height and
bynumerous other low islands, upon oil Of which the
breaks with like thunder Many of these isles
covered with cocoanut and other fine trees and we
find them shady and agreeable spots for carrying on the
work of the ship. Dobblns Island is ours there we
have our FORGE dry Sails wash Clothes send our
men to bahe get sand pick cocoanuts and keep
our four jacks who, poor things, imagine themselves
in the Eysan fields after having been hacked almost
death by cruel Spanish drivers Across the mouth Of the
harbor southeast and distant about six miles, lies Port
Escoces, or Scotch Port where the scotchmen landed
times Of yore is pretty landlocked and deep har
Dor, but difficult of egress from the prevailing winds
Upon the main land the hills rise from the beach, first
small, each range gradually increasing, until there lies
before sierras of not less than fifteen hundred feet
height Between these there appear be gorges but no
straight valleys through We but uninterrupted
chain of hills yet from that must not at argue
that there passage The Caledonia Aglaseniqua
river dsembogues in the bay directly opposite and
and deserted Indian huts the stream is but
small; and the surf, which is generally very heavy all
along the main Shore breaks clear the mouth.
We arrived here Tuesday, the 18th instant three
days from Carthagena and upon Thursday the 10TH at
P. NJ we landed Lieut. STRAIN and his party. Many
of the Indians board as soon as we arrived.
They short race, unprecedented high bones,
dark-eyed, good noses and wear their hair long
do They universally dressed in check Shirts
blue cotton rowsers and straw hats they shoes
Quite number speak little English. On the second
day the captain held conference with some Of the
sembled Chiefs who to know why we and how
long we were going to stay They reminded very
much Of the Japanese they did not want us to land
they wished to 60 away However at the conference
object explained to them through the interpreter
For long time they shook their heads and said Chu
chuli; no, Jesus Christ gave Indian this country
give American New York If Jesus Christ wanted canal
here he would have cut it they no want canal" 1t was
time before they could understand clearly that we
were going to commence the canal but only going to
sec he fheys We could
cross g Tiger very bad, snake very bad eat um up
Every argument used to terry by describing the
horrors of the journey but it all lost and, finally
they said might go, but must not frghten the wo
men trouble the fruit required very skiful
agement to gain their consent, and it subject Of
much satisfaction they expressed themselves very
good friends, and shook hands upon parting with the
greatest cordiality.
Our party, from unavoidable circumstances did not
leave the beach till Friday the 20th at noon when they
proceeded up tho Caledonia On Saturday the English
brig of Espege arrived three days from Jamaica,
with Messrs. GIsBoRNE and CULLEN on board Mr.. G..
was sent out in 1852 by Messrs Fox Henderson Bras
sey with Mr. FoRDE his assistant to survey this 18TH
They taken by the Indians before getting far
and brought by the Caledonia river Port Escoces
where they placed board of this vessel and
dered away. He went thence to Panama via Chagres,
thence to the Gulf of San Miguel opposite here, and
again made an attempt to cross Having reached place
where he observed the vicinity Of Indians he reraced
his steps, made his map returned to England and pub
shed most favorable report DR.. CULLEN, little
with spectacles and big mousaches here time
before CT Upon his return to England he pub
shed book and it upon his representations that
Mr. GIsBoRNE sent out. ST. JOHN, of the royal
gneers is also board of the Espiegle; he accompa
MES the party to make report The brig sailed from
Jamaica with the French steamer Chimer in company.
The Englishman lost overheard, and thus parted
company She however, arrived Sunday, also did the
schooner Scorpion from Carthagena with COL Cordazz
the engineer of the New Granadian Government and the
commander Of the troops expected every day from Car
upon their arrival and granted the parties permission
cross the Isthmus.
The allied party started the oath ultimo at daylight
consisted Of GIsBoRNE, CULLEN, ST. JOHN, r. Eng,
and English lieutenant with twenty men, and the cap
tain of the Chmer lieutenant and twenty Five
Of Lieut. STnAINs party returned to the ship the
morning They had through mistake got separated from
the main body; and, being without compass, found
themselves obliged to return The Indians had given
them molestaon whatever but in passing Of the
villages they found it entirely deserted parcel Of yep
ing out to welcome them, the only inhabitants
peep into their huts showed that they not unpro
vided with weapons, for gun and bow and
hanging in each This party dispatched again next
morning, and hardy spirited set they were. Lieut.
FAUNTLERoY, with twelve men, started at the me
and the fork Of the river he took the eastern branch
the trail of the English and French party while the