The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-05-25

| and one out to the seashorc, from this building
Within these passages the inmates took refuge
during the massacre, not one OF whom ever cs
capped alive II is supposed that immense guam
titles of treasure are buried within these pas
sages as the institution was rich, and the amount
Of gold and silver known TO be in the monastery
at the time was large, none Of which was ever
found Expeditions have been organized at Va
rious times to explore this place. but they have
ALWAYS failed as it was impossible TO penetrate
very deep on account Of the monstrouS reptile,
which nhabit it.
Bishop Paul, the present Bishop, whom l founC
to be one of the most pleasing of conversation
alsts, and who thoroughly understands the cOndi
ton of things, said that Panama, and, in fact
the entire diocese OF Central America, had sui
fercd much during the past quart. oil century
but would in time be righted again. That, as far
as it was in his power, he would do away with
many of those old methods and ways which are Sc
characteristic Of the people here, and try to in
fuse into them new life and hope.
He has, since his ordination, established Il hos
pital Tor strangers which is in charge of the Sis
tiers of Charity. This hospital is entirely free for
all denominations and no charge whatever is re-
quired no matter how long confined there It
was built at the exclusive expense of Bishop Paul
and is supported by him also.
The good Bishop has also established school
for boys and girls which is free, and he intends
to organize them wherever possible.
There are six churches in the city and 50 church
cs in the diocese, with 50 priests to attend them.
There are nine churches in course of construc-
ton, several of which will be fit to hold mass in
the coming year
Speaking of the immortality of the Spanish peo-
pie, His Reverence said, considering all things,
the morality of the Spanish people will compare
favorably with any other nation, and especially
among the old Castiians. True, among the low
cr classes of society it is bad, but not in anyway
to be thrown in the scale with Mexico. There is
less divorces and bloodshcd among the real old
Spanish people than among other countries, and
a case of murder, other than political, is extreme
ly rare
ACROSS THE ISTHMUs
from Panama to Aspinwall We were aroused
from our slumbers on the Georgia about / A. NJ.
on the morning of April 23d, and by 7 A. NJ we
had eaten our breakfast, left the ship on the ten
der, and went aboard the train, where, in few
minutes after, we were skirting the suburbs Of
Panama, and "skitlng" across the Isthmus If
there is an interesting ride in this world it is that
forty miles which divide the Atlantic from the
Pacific, known rs the Isthmus of Panama. In
this small space you can see more varied forms
of tropical wonder, lie and beauty, than in any
place know Of From the moment the train
ulid mt oft bn lppnt nd ind
self on board the ship in Aspnwall, there is a
continual changing panorama of tropical sights
and some that will never be forgotten
The first thing that attracts the attention after
leaving Panama, is the peculiar huts of the ma.
tives, which are entirely different from anything
seen in Mexico or other parts of Central America
They are high huts, with almost perpendicular
roofs matched with palm leaves. They are some
thing like South Sea Islanders hut, "built on
stills with nothing on the first floor but the
ground" as one of our party remarked, and away
up under the roof is where the people live or
sleep There are other kinds to be seen as the
train advances towards the interior. Those are
mostly made Of cane and plastered with mud, but
yet resemble the style of the others. The next
picture that strikes our fancy--or disfancy ac-
cording to the taste Of the Travellers the "un-
dress PARADE of the natives who rush from their
hus and halloo at the passengers Us the train
goes by Their dress is not what everybody would
call fashionable, but FROM the little experienced
we have had in those regions, it is our opinion
that climate has great deal to do with style.
We thought that the few cherubs we saw in Mcxi-
co were awful, but here we see whole villages of
them.
As we advance the change in the surrounding
vegetation becomes more decided. Gum trees,
gigantic reeds, and palms Of every form and every
color lift their heads above the jungle. Now and
then the track crosses creek or swamp and
glides along by the bank of a river or the gloomy
sides Of some thick underground, and then we
find ourselves passing immense fields of bananas,
Spanish daggers, or lofty cocoanut trees Here
is the paradise of plants in the season which
We call winter in the north, but this Is the blessed
latitude where
"A, a, meadow. and all wee.is are ever green
Onward bounds the train at full speed, now
crossing some deep ravines or along some winding
creeks or streams, with tropical flowers whose
fragrance and lovely tinted colors charm
the heart and soul Of the passengers Onward,
still onward rolls the train beautiful fields,
around high and rugged hills, till finally in due
time we arrive in Aspinwall, where we are trans
fcred from the train to the steamer. after do.
ing the square thing with splendid lunch.
which Mr. Ryan, the gentlemanly stewart of the
Crescent City had prepared for us
AsPINwALL
is remarkable city for many things, but more
especially the Jamaica "nagars,n which consti.
tute nine tenths of its inhabitants Those pco-l
pie are not Of the ebony black, but a Kind oil
Mulatto; the men are Of medium stature and have
a kind Of feminine look about them. The wo.
men are tall, quick and Of masculine STYLE, and
are without any exception the greatest talkcrs-as
class ever met. They do all the business and
support their husbands, who seem to be a kind
Of supernumerary around the household. These
women dress 'lOud'-long calico dresses Of yari.
nuS cnlprS with "A trail pf e.yrr,l vol