Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-05-05
THE DARIEN EXPEDITION.
,Iesults thus Far-The Life of an Ex-
ted Nature.

results thus Far-Tho Life Of an Ex-
Correspondence N. Y. Tribune.
Aa1AsEREoUA RIVER, March 22.-It is ex-
actly month this day since the survey be-
gan, and we have now surveyed snd 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 LAC
feet above sea level, and that surveying
parties are pretty sure to strike the
ship on Saturday nights, because
grub is generally a little extra on board
ship Sundays. The main question here is
food, the second, outfit. On the first ex-
petition / carried in all about 55 to GO
pounds-too much anywhere; but when
the road is the bed of a stream often waist
deep, paved with loose cobble stones, it is
enough to kill a 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 fill with water over the
tons you have to cut holes to let it out, and
tn they will not stand Very soon shoes
and leggings are preferred, but wading
works mischief with leather. Five days is
as long as pair of shoes will hold out.
We are now relieved of carrying our food
by the reinforcement We have received
from Carthagens of 10 little donkeys. This
is their first day of trial; their load is $50
pounds, in bags and bo2es. They stumble
and quiver at every step, and it is s'wonder
that they get on at all over such q road;
but this is nothing to what the country Is
ahead. Hall q 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 a geological section, but not enjoy
able to q man progressing on all fours. 1t
viii 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 uneasn ness now is whether, af-
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 8, 500 to 4, ZOO feet per
day on passable ground, but here We think
il unspeakable; yet we are going to the
Chnemaqua all the same. The sun never
reaches us in the woods, and We are getting
quite bleached, though no one is yet on
the sick list, and / am beginning to have
considerable hopes of the climate. Still,
the fatigne begins to tell, and you don't
hear ''Shoo fly" in the woods so often.
Z 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 of small 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 ''mucho malo;" and they are fond of
into camp of nights. We start in
line at z n m. and return at 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
the rain doesn't put the fire out we dry
clothes; then fix mp hunks, and at 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
,ess of the Canal, have no doubt.