The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-05
Our Panama Corrsspcnae~oe.


7,s CIV Of Pdnama-Es Prsex Aspers-OAarcaes ard
Prisons Population and Emp,esmsess--TAe Railrood
Dre-Tse Proposed Naval Astsow for ne United Sases-
Our Relations Nth ne Go Izrssseu--Amer0an Sailors IN
ne Harbor-Nas fro A Risas-I sAmus Erpae,n.ios-
ne Hedther, &c
this place has Aimed considerable noteriey Of Late
from its being the erminus the Pacific side Of the rail-
road which eros Is lthmus and from It's beng the
Of The a outrages offered 70 our citizens on the
18th Of Apr', 1866, propose in this communication
give brisI description OF the city, glspcng cursory at
its torog Apply, social condition and facts connected with
this rereou.
IN Imitation OF he cities Of olden time Panama
VALID town. situated at the foot Of the Cordleas which,
on me ,hmus connecting link between these
n6untain chains which the western OF
orh and South America The walls by which the place
enviropcd were built in great measure from stone
brought spain, around Cape Horn at an expense
is said Of $50 600 0O0 whilst there In the neghbor
ing hills quarrics Of rock OF the finest quality. These
walls are yet il remarkable Of preservation and
you tho city through openings the walls which
closed by gates One Of the principal OF them
Iradonary lore tells US, of gold But whether Of
gold silver iron they have long since fallen from their
hinges and you pass these portals unchallenged by
sentry gate keeper. the principal buildings Of the
town built Of brick stone, and indicate considerable
in their original construction The streets are
with order, generally crossing each oter
tangulary, yet they exceedingly narrow rarely
ceedng twelve feet in width This in one respect
is advantage, the proximity Of the buildings shades
| the street below.
The town is abundanty furnished with churches one Of
which, named, par ecence the Cathedral is situated ON
the side of the plaza, square plat or land peculiar
to Spanish towns occupying central position in the city
The Cathedral has fine outside appearance yet in its in
terror decorations is much inferior to Catholic churches
found elsewhere This church also q resting
place for the istrous dead Of the city One of the
pies s honored with the town clock In another part of
the is the walls Of huge building which
| intended college by the Jesuts This building
abandoned when half completed for the lack
adequate to It's completion, and in its designs most
noble But nature is rapidly reaining her sway its
Site wild plants thrive uxuriantly in its interior and
the msetoe occupies niche which was intended
by the disciple OF Loyola for his tuteary saint Nature,
especially in southern attudes readily compenSates for
the rvagcs OF time in covering the Wondering ruin with
| flowers ,arcr than iresco or mosaic work.
These stupcndous structures Of art begun in those
palIny days OF Spain when her purse flushed pie
thorn by The golden spos which flowed into her
~ from the conquese of Cortez and Pzarro
Panama numbers some seven eight thousand In popu-
ton, in which is comprised heterogeneous mixture of
Spanish French and negroes So large number of the
inhab negroes mulatoes that stranger visiting
the place for be first time would be led to think that he
| had entered negro town. And allow to otter gentle
hint to those who would visit this country with high autc
pations of Casian beauty, that they will suffer great
disappointment For the complexion of Senora Maria Is
whit too dusky her alty enducd with little much
lateral diltation, her raven tresses little TOO much
crsped her foot she slappngy pods along the side
walk generally nearly shoeless quadrate with the
ideas OF beauty OF who has wandered here from less
merdanal cline The and p.inos, together with the
pode' and aode whom they bless, appear in that al
primitive array which, in Of rents, make
| esactions on the taiiors skill FOR repairs.
visited the public prison a few days ago, and found
every grade Of crime from petty larceny TO cold booded
murder. Among them saw one unfortunate wight who,
for the crime Of murder sentenced to be shot few
days hence He lay upon the floor with his feet confined
in stocks and at presence he raised his head with
ponchaant air which seemed indicate most perfect
reckessness as to his approaching fate must confess that
bis tended in great TO deprive him of
that sympathy which hii condition nigh, otherwise have
| awakened. Over Of the iron grated windows which
admitted The light this abode OF wretchedness
little box OF flowers, emitting peculiar spicy fragrance
These doubtless had been planted by some fair hand, where
prchanee they might nid ray OF cheeuness Into The
prison gloom.
with the cond uon o the people The articles offered Tor
sale consisted mainly of fruits indigenous TO this REGION
With small amount OF beef pork and fish. Tie market
is open long before sunrise inasmpch this IL the most
part OF the day The fruits exposed for sale
small heap Of stones which Sonora takes her seat,
often with la nina sleeping al her side, substituting rock
70. pillow. AL kinds O. meats command most enor
price nsomuch tina. few OF the people able to
indulge in this luxury Sweet potatoes, which thrive al
most spontaneously here sell for twenty cents pound;
couple of small cabbage leaves for dime.
Panama, as before stated, is situated AT the foot or the
Cordieras, Of the peaks Of which oyertoWers the
city and with Us gay tropical air adds much to Tie beauty
or the scenery. The bay the edge of which the city
situated gradually itse amidst rocks and reefs
under the foot Of these hills rhc presence Of these reefs
renders II impossible for vessels OF any magnitude 10
approach than mile of the town. All oommu.
A, Tho Mac. m, he ae.tad small
hna,s hnb 90 don,nioJ ~, 80 ,hsr r,y ,,sth r,rch
coo ,rnis, bc rccts III danger from which Increases
yitb t,c iJe VIII oh rises and faIls most randy
IN -, - n t,n.a, p,saaI c,,nrln, s era,ol
o,ii ~ Inc val on the north 10 Of Tho city and mas
o,hr Of cool bnd,, o. ana. bcd 20 n ybicb Void
e..o Iii 81 H. g. ;ldira' :, ~ So, ~ ~
M iiards ,,h, n voss, p,,y IN, srd More have pro
na ,n 49, l,c nceoiaori ,o ,rcg,so far MI
sr arc traie, in mo nav nm a sh,-t distance from
-, 80, ~ -, r1c 49, b, reeo Jsia,ds
80 me-, ~ sixn,nc va,e 40 Inc Nv, t,rsr,Jian govern
men and any ,avment rendered by our goyernrnent for
,br sbo, III IL CO. geree ratbc in he IgSi of gra,y
n 4, nses.rt 40 enter in,o c,sil in rs.cnce 20 ,Sc
rtjs ondcavors Of Nessrs Boxip and Morse In oct an
|