The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-01-27

below, or beneath. One yellow belle
who came down from the bamboos to
see US, was evidently more aristocratic
than her kindredj for, in addition to her
white wrapper, she sheltered her com.
plexion under brown silk umbrella, 10
which her pride as well as her purse
was invested. Near these clusters Of
huts, rise the neat white house Of the
station. masters two stories high, with
broad verandahs and lattices of vines.
Here, with his heels on rail, sits,
smoking cigar. the Yankee lord and
master Of the settlement. The yard of
the house, enclosed by a white picket
fence, is shaded by cocoanut palms,
oleanders, altheas and other flower
bearing trees. 1t is pleasant to meet
these civilized spots which, blooming
out at intervals all along the road, make
a wonderful contrast to the huddle OF
dirty huts that lies on their outskirts
The railroad frequently touches and
turns away from the Chagre' river, but
finally crosses it by long iron bridge
There is now no life on this muddy
stream, once swarming with adventures
seeking fortune on the Pacifc coast.
A bunch Of cuflew were skimming over
It, and two white cranes stood DOING
on its sandy shore, as VIC passed by.
Soon after crossing the river. the road
reaches its summit grade, which is not
high enough to open any distant land
scapes, and then descends rapidly to-
wards the Pacific; winding between the
highlands that form the backbone of
the isthmus, and running out upon the
beach OF Panama before you are aware
of the proximity of the sea. Steamers
bound to San Francisco aud to ports in
Central America, lie ut anchor near the
islands Of Flamenco aud Perico, three
miles of to which a ferry boat trans.
fers passengers from the railroad.
THE CITY.
There 10 not much 10 the city of
Panama to interest stranger. II is Il
hot place; built Of stone on a rocky
peninsula; nearly 200 years old. Veg.
citation has long since taken root on the
crumbling walls erected for its protec.
ton against buccaneers, aud on the
decayed churches and converts that
once attested the piety Of its Spanish
founders. Its natives are monsrel
race, whose yellow skin aud coarse black
hair tell that Indian blood predominates
in them They speak language as
mixed as their blood, but showing
Spanish origin. The city has some
trade because it is free port. Linens,
umbrellas, cigars, French wines aud
muslins and sold cheap. Most of the
shops are kept by the family of Isaacs
aud Nathans from Europe aud the Uni.
ted States their thrift gives some life
to the streets, The city is partly lighted
BY gas, and has as good an hotel as can
be found in the tropics. A tri.weokly
newspaper is published ia the English
language; aud there is q Protestant
Episcopal Mission Church here. under
the charge of Rev. Mr.. Lee, from York,
Pennsylvania.
AS the city has no harbor, all vessels
have TO lilo remote in the bay, in which
the ordinary tides rise and fall 10 feet.
and the spring tides 22 feet. When
the tide GIBBS il uncovers coral reefs aud
sandy flats in front of the walls, setting
the town inland. Then groups of lazy
natives may be seen scratching into the
sands in search Of coins and trinkets.
believed TO have been lost in the early
days When there were more jewels aud
gold in Panama, than now. saw thu
fragment Of fnger ring scratched up,
which contained stone supposed to be
valuable. But my experience is that
valuable thugs are not to be found SO
easily. The energies of these natives
are, however, wsll.empIoyed ia scratch.
ing sand, aud they are naturally adapt
ed to the business. Perhaps this is not
surprising, since scratching becomes u
national propensity in these old aud un.
washed countries, where fieas abound !;
most OF the natives whom saw, under
their own vines aud Z trees, were earn.
estly engaged 10 this pursuit.
1t was on this shore that Europeans
first saw the PACIFIC ocean. That was
10 1913, when the young Spauiard Bal
boa, with his companions, came up the
Chagres river from the Atlantic coast.
aud marched westward in search OF new
dominions for the king of Spain. The
story says that, after toiling for many
days through the forest, his Indian
guide assured Balboa that from the top
OF the next hill he would see an ocean.
Leaving his companions, he went up
alone, with the devoutness of priest
aud the enthusiasm Of warrior, and
beheld the South sea stretching ia eud.
less prospect before him. When he
reached its shore, he marched into the
water with his armor on, declaring that
he took possession Of this ocean in the
name of the king OF Spain, whose right
to It he would defend against all cue.
mics.
His followers founded the city of
Panama; not the present city, but
another Of the same name, whose ruins
are on the shore thres miles below.
This city grew rich by traffic in slaves,
aud gold aud silver from the South, be.
coming one Of the most opulent cities
OF Spanish America. IL had existed
l52 years, when Henry Morgan, the
English freebooter from jamaica, having
heard It's wealth, crossed tie isthmus
with twelve hundred mon for the pur.
pose Of plundering it.
At that time the old city contained
seven thousand houses built of native
woods, Of which, it is said, two thousand
were elegantly furnished; their walls