Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-04-18

we could seldom learn, we at length came 10
the summit ridge and rolled down under the
side of "Cerro de los Buccaneros,' or Noun
tain of the Buccaneers" and a few moments
more brought us in view of the tall spires and
turrets of ancient Panama.
Dismounting at the station house amid a
throng of orange and cake vendors, we seated
ourselves ina genuine "New York" omnibus,
drawn by four immense mules, and were
whirled rapidly through the city gates and
along the rough paved streets till We drew
up before the ''Hotel de Panama" The hSuse
at first sight is rather old and monkish inNts
appearance, but its splendid meals and wide>
cool halls make it, Notwithstanding, a desira-
BILE retreat.
The city is an old spanish town, built of
thin, old fashioned brick, with side walks OF
such dimensions as to compel the ladies to go
Single fle,' since the quite general intro
duction of crinoline. There are several large
stone churches, which have the nee
of being built both for the purpose OF worship
and defense, for they all have very thick walls
and are loop-holed for cannon and musketry.
They, however, are much dilapidated, and are
fast falling into decay. The houses are all
very old, and indeed I do not think | saw a
single modern house within the Notifications.
Panama is surrounded by walls of brick and
hewn stones from twenty-five to thirty feet
in height, but they are cracked and broken
in many places: and young trees and vines
have grown up in the c~revices of the rocks.
The walls on the top are sown with grass,
which is kept smoothly shaven, and forms a
deli ghtful promenade. Here In the cool o.
the evening the inhabitants, men, women anc
children, may be seen lounging on the greer
sward, enjoying the sea breeze and smoking
tho pooct JoIiciouc of SpaDich CIGARS
Panama is, indeed, a paradise for smokers
for the few cigars which are made here ar
by far superior to all others-HaVana not ex
7 CSpCou. -44 Estates or Europe.
ainefe vans on the western side of Panam;
are very much out of repair; for in the nu
merous seiges from which the city has suffer
ed, this side has been the principal point Q
I attack. Here the pirate chieftain, Morgan
l having led his band across the Isthmus
e poured his wild beleagurers over the wall
5 and stripped the city and churches of a grea
. part of their wealth. Since then, the armie
. of contending nations have alternately cam
into possession of the town, and it has bee
sacked, taken and retaken so often, that
e has now dwindled Town to secondary impol
lance. Still it's age, venerable appearance
and the remembrance of SO many romanti
incidents connected with it's history, make
|, one Of the most interesting of old SPANS
G towns.
e 1t is natural for us to linger amid the dir
G old shadows of the past, and l fain woul
learn and write more of this land of romano
e and olden time tales, were | not deferred b
l. the recollection that my time is limited, an
= that ADLER pens than mine, have searched, an
n will yet further search out the pages of tn
history of Panama, which have hitherto bee
a neglected.
e Andnow, dear Esprit" having shaken yo
d by the hand, l will, for a while, bid good-by
e patrons and their happiness may each SUI
ceeding year increase a thousand fold.
O o