Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-01-29

INTERESTING EXTRACTS PROM LETTER FROM
J. X. DAVIS, EsQ.-The many friends of j. X.
Davis, Esq, who recently left this place for As
pinwal, Central America, will be glad to hear OF
his safe arrival at that port. We have been
granted the privilege of extracting the following
from letter written to his father, dated Janua-
ry ii, 1875. After describing pleasant voyage,
the usual sea-sickness excepted, Mr.. Davis gives
the following:
''On arriving here went to the L. 5. Consul
late, and learned from Mr.. ThOEgton, the Con-
sui, that neither Capt. Bennett nor the Canaan
daigua were here, but that he expected them eV-
cry hour. l then inquired for hotel, and he
told me there no such place, that would
have to find cafe, obtain n room and meals
there. am in an establishment that the devil
himself coqld not name if he were here, Tor De-
tween the heat, and color and appearance OF the
natives, compared to civilized persons, this place
has the nearest approach to hell than any other
have ever heard or dreamed of. My idea oil
of Aspinwa!l WAS that it was a large city, or at
least large commercial port but no man was
ever more deluded. 1t is not even a town 1t Is
simply spot on which in area of perhaps one
mile, are located between four and five thousand
Jamaica niggers. | cannot attempt to give you
a description OF these heathens. Their appen-
rance and filthy condition is repulsive that it is
simply awful to look at them. They live entirely
from the labor on the docks of the Pacific Mall
Company, bring and transport the freight from
the vessels to the cars on the Panama railroad.
The houses arc huts built of boards, brick anG
stone. Some were built by the company for te-
nant houses for these workmen. Imagine one of
these brick buildings with from four to five hun
dred of these animals in IL. The woman and
children lie about in the sun under the cocoa
trees, almost naked, and the men wear nothing
but covering about the middle ofthe body.
The company have five large docks, and are
constantly engaged in either loading or discharg-
ing cargoes. went through the docks this at
ternoon, and looked at the men at work, which
is a sight to see. / went to the offices of the
company, and there i saw the most beautiful
sight. The Office is Il frame building, elegantly
furnished and situated in the midst of garden
that would repay any one to come here ana see
it. Large cocoa trees, full of fruit, afford shade,
being from 90 to 80, and some 40 and 90 feet in
heights. The garden is laid ont in plats, aud in
it are the most elegant flowers and ferns. such
flowers poets write about, ans. that we read OF,
but such as never dreamed of seeing. They re-
quire no care whatever, and are constantly in
bloom. They never fade, but each departing
leaf and bud is replaced by another as II disap
pears.
This is the lowest point on the Isthmus. The
surface being nothing but coral, am told that a
rain of six inches, all passes away in an hours
time. The houses are only Is inches above the
surface of the sea, there being no tide here. This
may seem strange, as over at Panama, just op-
poste, on the Pacific, the tide is from IS 10 20
feet.
The greatest change that experience i'll all this
voyage, is that of passing from cold climate
into one in which the heat is great that to Il
person not accimated 1t is simply awful.
grew warmer and hotter the ship came
down, aud not having anything but my winter
clothing, 1 almost perished."