Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-01-23
A Voyage to California.

of an Orleans county lady-Miss Cathar
inc f. Child of Derby--to her friends :;
9" We left New York on the steamship
Ariel" the first of Oct. at p. NJ, il
a rain storm and wind, which continued
to increase until twelve that night, anC
made nearly all the passengers seasick
She was heavily freighteG and crowded
with between five and six hundred pas
sengers. Even the most of the Officers
and crew became sick so that passen
ger, Capt. B, bad TO take charge
He afterwards told me that the storm
was almost too much for the boat, and
that he was on the point of putting back
when it abated. The vessel leaked all
the way; and after two days had but one
available pump. When the storm clear.
ed off the weather became fine and con-
tinued so the most of the way. The 9th
day out we passed the eastern coast Of
the island of Cuba, which appeared rock y
and barren but the delightful climate
exceeded every Imagination. Jamaica
appeared on our right and St. Domingo
on our left. When within a day of As
penwall, the boat careened badly; and at
length we were glad, and as the captain
said, fortunate after all our dangers to
reach terra .frmd.
The appearance of Aspinwall by moon
light, was charming. The low shore dot
ted with foliage, through which, here and
there peered cottage lights, whilst twining
overhead, the broad leaved cocoanut trees
Stood like SO many sentinels guarding
the place. But the unromantic light of
day uncovered the filth and squalor of
its degraded inhabitants, who are Mexi-
cans, Spaniards and Africans. They are
of every class and condition, from the
rude native to those who initiate our hab-
its and customs. The few government
buildings and the ioc9motioe were almost
the only signs Of civilization, though
some of the hotels were very comforta-
bic. At night the dew distils like rain,
and ones clothing, if exposed is satura-
ted in few moments, which is prolific Of
fever and ague. By day the sun would
not be endurable but for The sea breeze.
The foliage is of endless variety and o.
every tint and hue.
We left the next day, the 1llb, after /
had gathered some shells as a memento
Of my sojourn on foreign shore. My
ride across the Islhmus l enjoyed ANA
zingly. The mountains were genuine
Vermont hills, only clothed with tropical
flowers and fruits. The neat white sta
ton houses, embowered in flower gar
dens, afforded striking contrast 10 the
picturesque, matched huts of the natives.
We reached Panama at about 3 p NJ,
where a small steamer was waiting to
take US out into the bay to the steam
ship Golden Age" Here the scenery
surpassed everything we had seen. The
coast is more mountainous With the old
moss grown town of Panama nestled at
their base. The bay of Panama is stud
ded with emerald isles" their deep
green being here and there diversified by
a gray rock-all of which beggars de-
scripton. only wish you could see and
(, njoy it.
Oranges, tie only tropical fruit in
which l dared to indulge from fear of
sickness, l got green from the tree, at
for five cehts apiece.
The Golden Age" we found float
ing palace to the steamer we had left
So we glided over the dark blue sea
along the picturesque coast in high spir-
is. But the ocean soon proved not to
% so pacific. 1t rolled in pillows noun
ain high. There had a return of that
worst of all sicknesses--sea Sickness
My pen cannot describe a storm at sea,
Tor need it, as that Of the Psalmist paint
ID our case TO the life, " We went up TO
heaven and down into the depths" We
'eheld also with eager eyes leviathan
md the rest Of the marine monsters.
At Acapulco, on the Mexican coast,
where we stopped for coal and water, is
mother splendid harbor. The natives
anne round in their canoes loaded with
ruit, and had learned to say Three pine
lpples for four bits" As we were now
lalf way from Panama, and the weather
vas daily getting cooler, we could in