The New York herald., 1870-05-27
THs DARIEN EXPEDITION.
Latest from the Explorers in the
Gulf Of San Bias.
Plenty Of Rainy wsathsr-Ths Work Puihins
Forward Exploring the Rivers = Tho
Hrospsot-A Plea for tho SailorA

Hf GULF or SAN BLAs. May II. 1870.
II may be that the "rainy season" win not fairly
set In until July. but during the nineteen days since
arrival here more than half OF the time has been
lost on account OF rain. plentiful enough to give us
vivid idea OF what that season must be "when the
plug u wholly taken ont" Even before the Nipsc
went to Aspinwal- -arfordng several OF the officers
O chance to make speedier and more agreeable
transit Of the sthmus than they VIII probably enjoy
by any other reute than that OF the Panama Rail.
way the heavens had opened widely and poured
forth foods Of rain. On one occasion the Guard
caught 2,loo gallons In one hour and twenty minutes.
Nevertheless. orders TO push on the work OF the
expedition, ''rain or shine" have been faithfully
obeyed, so far a. nature itself has allowed. For
Instance, yesterday in spite OF continuous showers,
no less than four thousand feet OF telegraph WIRE
were put up. And, Notwithstanding all obstacles,
the surveying party, under command Of Lieutenant
Hitchcock OF the Nipsic has persisted In It's explo
ration of the Mandinga river and its mouths or
delta until it has penetrated twelve miles inland
SIX miles and half IN direct limo from the Shore
Tns party Is now advancing along the LEFT fork OF
the river, which fork Is called Samgundi by the In
dlans. The Nlcaiagua river has been explored
with the plane table and accurately
mapped for ntne miles from its mouth
the exploring party being now five miles dis ant
from the beach in direct line. The Sangundi AMI
the Nicalagua both head In the direction OF the San
3Ss oaar S q tne wnca ows so
San Jose may be remains to be determined. Tnerc
Is In fact no part OF tue isthmus OF which so tie
although there Is strong reason 70 believe that the
short st route across the tsthmus will prove TO be
ne wa o p ns ts o. n bs
the Bay or Panama. therefore Admiral Davis, IN
his s'Report on Iuter0ceanic Canals and Railroads
urgently recommended that thorough exami a ion
for pass should be made before the so-called
considered the only feasiDie route in this iocaIy
In addition 10 tho work II the surveying parties in
the iuteror the astronomical. Typographical and
hydrographcal work REQUISITES for the construction
Of q complete chart OF the head OF the Cuff OF San
Bias the possible harbor OF an inteloceanc canal
Is steadily gong on. Mr.. Morman's observatory was
erected on the very day OF our arrival. The
exact latitude and longitude ol an astronomical
station n has been obtained latitude 80 iongl-
Ruat0n has been executed with theodolite the
shore line has been determined With the plane table
and sextart, and upwards OF 100 miles or soundings
have been taken by parties from the Guard
Meanwhile almost everybody's apparel (and
weSs s 3s s
OF the officers, perhaps, can afford such extravag
devotion to science and patriotism. But many OF
the men are getting deeply In debt for clothes that
must he paid Tor out Of their meagre wages. Might
not the United States government make "draw-
Ssrsd pv 1 to ana
and marines Of tae Darien Expedition at least three
months extra pay as seton against their un-
ayoidable extra expensesf
Further Particulars Of the Expediti0n-Twclvc
Miles Inland surveycd-Tho Mountain
Spurs Observation-Disclosures Intelligence.
The following additional particulars have been
ceived OF the progress made by the expedition in
surveying the route from the Gulf Of San Bias to the
Bayamo rivers Hprf@
The work Of survey had progressed twelve miles
inland from the Bay OF san Bias. at which distance
highest elevation passed being 112 feet.
The progress Of the survey was impeded by heavy
raj IN, which sweled the streams to torrents. The
weather was exceedingly hot during the daytime.
The work of surveying the Bay OF san Bias was
@ he
completed by the time the expedition was ready 70
sail ior home.
me Nipsic arrived from Aspinwall at noon on the
9th inst, bringing the New York mail OF April 2l,
and supplies Oi ice and fresh provisions.
The sicA list OF the Guard numbered eight per-
sons. Three officers at the front, with the survey
Ing party, were sick with fever and ngue. The rest
OF tne eXpedlon were In good health.
The expedition VIII sal for home about the 2Jth
OF the present month unless the present intention
rla