The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-05-06
THE nARIEN EXPEDITION.


results thus Far-The Life or an Ex-
pIorer-InctSeDtsO of fTravel-Antma-
ted Nature.
:, : Correspondence N, Y. Tribune. ~
r AGIAsEREoUA RIVER, March %. 1T is ex-
actly month this day since the survey be-
gan, and We have now surveyed and map
ped four different lines, the total distance
travelled being about 35 miles. But two
things are certainly known, namely, that
the base of the mountains is at least 14O
feet above sea level, and that surveying
parties are pretty sure to strike the
ship on Saturday nights, because
grub is generally q little extra on board
ship Sundays. The main question here Is
food, the second, outfit. On the first ex-
pedition 1 carried in all about DO to 6O
pounds-too much anywhere; but when
the road is the bed of stream often waist
deem. paved with loose cobble stones, 1t Is
enough to kill horse. On shore the roots
and stumps make it more fatiguing than
the river. Boots, at first, are IN great de-
mand, but as they I'll with water over the
tops YOU have to cut holes to let it out, and
then they will not stand. Very soon shoes
and legoings are preferred, but wading
works mischief with leather. Five days Is
as long as pair of shoes viii hold out.
We are now relieved of carrying our food
BIZ the reinforcement we have received
from Carthagena of 10 little donkeys. This
is their first day of trial; their load Is 15O
pounds, in bags and boxes. They stumble
and culver at every step, and it is wonder
that they get on at all over such road;
but this is nothing to what the country is
ahead. Half mile above our camp to-
night it is said our way is up an infinite
number of waterfalls, flowing through
deep perpendicular gorges of Semite-very
good for geological section, but not enjoy
able to a man progressing on all fours. 1t
will be rough on the donkeys, and much
more so on us, if they give out and we have
again to carry grub ourselves.
Our chief uneasiness now is whether, al
ter being drenched night and day In the
valley By wading, rain, and perspiration,
we shall find any water on the mountain
tops. We can cut 3, 500 to 1000 feet per
day on passable ground, but here we think
it unspeakable; yet we are going to the
Clinemaqua all the same. The sun never
reaches us in thewoods, and we are getting
quite bleached, though no one is yet on
the sick list and l am beginning to have
hopes of the climate. Still,
the fatigue begins to tell, and you don't
hear t'Shoo fly" in the woods so often. =
We see very few birds, very little fruit,
and that strict orders forbid being touched,
the Indians making great stand for their
bananas. There are plenty ofsSmau trout
in the streams, some monkeys swinging by
their tails from the distant trees, and plenty
of creeping, crawling and stinging things
besides coral snakes, which the Indians say
are 'fn1ucho mdIo;" and they are fond OF
creeping into camp of nights. We start In
line at Z a. m. and return at 4 to wash our
selves and our clothes, and get on any.
thing dry we are happy enough to have;
then feed while the food lasts (now and
then there is none) then smoke, and when
therain doesn't put the fire out we dry
clothes; then fix up hunks, and at 8 o'clock
turn in. We then scratch, and kick, and
cuff; until, after saying our prayers at least
four times in our desperation, we at length
fall asleep, generally to wake up when the
musketoes and creepers have conquered
sleep, and rise to go off and doze in the
smoke of the fires till morning. Of the
value of the explorations, and ultimate sue
cess of the Canal, have no doubt