Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-12-15


being this of Panama, and San Miguel, !
little farther to the eastward.
For nearly three hundred years our
sailors sailed up and down, on both oceans
gazing at the frowning mountain wall |
whose highest peaks pierce the clouds, be-
fore it was discovered that this hyphen of
the hemispheres is not all rugged heights !
and fever-haunted swalnps, but that large
portion of it consists of low hills, alter |
mated by fertile valleys and undulating
plains, watered by many streams, covered
with excellent timber, and capable OF
yielding in greatest abundance most of the
productions of both tropical and temperate
zones. The chief crops of the lsthmus to-
day, Cultivated mainly for the purpose of
supplying the transit, are corn, coffee,
cocoa, rice, sugar, tobacco and bananas.
The virginia. forests, however, yield greater
wealth in their abundance of mahogany,
tulip, India-rubber, and other valuable
trees, while in their primeval solitudes
jalap, vanilla, storax, indigo, and other of
natures valuable commodities flourish I'M
disturbed.
As to mineral wealth, the question is
yet mooted one, no extensive researches
having ever been made. 1t is generally
believed that the isthmus is GOt as prolific
of gold and silver as the countries to the
north and south OF it, though mines of
copper, coal, iron and salt are now being
worked with profit, and gold has been
found in paying quantitie. In ancient
times the coasts were famous for their
pearl fisheries, but now they are nearly
abandoned. The climate is the most seri-
Gus drawback to industries OF ali kinds.
In Panama the dry seasen lasts from De-
cember to June, and during the remaining
months Of the year the rainfall is prodig
| ious. Especially during July, August and
! September, it rains necessarily, as only it
can rain in the tropics, when literally the
! windows OF hea7en" seem opened anew as
/ in Noail's time. Throughout the annual
| season Of dsluge western winds prevail,
sending heavy swells even into Panama
bay, which tranquil sheet of water is other
wise entirely undisturbed by wind or sea.
| So sheltered and protected is the harbor
| by the islands on one hand and mountains
ON the other that destructive tempests are
never known there the only perils being
in the shape Of sharks and cdjeatardS.
The city Of Panama, the principal sea-
port of the Colombian Republic on the Pa
cifc side, presents an imposing aspect from
the sea. 1t stands at the head of the bay
on the southern shore of the isthmus, occu-
pying a rocky peninsula which extends
some distance out into the shallow waters
Though the famous Panama harbor is one
of the safest and most commodious in the
world, vessels of more than eighty tons
burden cannot approach the shore, but
must anchor at Perico Island, three miles
distant.
This old fortified town, whose wide, clean
streets extend across the tongue of land
from sea to sea, is quaint enough to inter
est the most blase tourist. Though now
crumbling to decay, its massive buildings
show traces of former grandeur, being con-
structed in the ancient Spanish style, Of
solid stone, with inside pdtois, or court
yards. Previous to 1746 when the trade
to the Pacific first began to be carried
around Cape Horn, Panama city was the
principal entrepot between Europe and
the western coasts of America. From that
date, however, it began to decline, and
since the independence of the Spanish
American States and the opening of other
Pacific ports, its down-hill progress has
been very rapid Immediately after the
discovery of the California gold mines, in
the historic days of 40, Panama recuper-
ated to a considerable extent, though to
nothing of its former consequence. Its
population is now about 10000, and it is
chiefly important as being the terminus of
the Panama railway 1t has some trade
of its own, principally with Europe, in
pearls, pearl shells and mother-of pearl,
and gold dust (all found in the vicinity ];
besides fruits, nuts, dye stufs, hides, and
other products of Colombia and the
Isthmus.
Among the sights of the town which en-
gage the attention of travellers are beau
tiful cathedral and half a dozen inferior
churches, each with its chime of bells;
several splendid converts, Jesuit college,
the Governors palace, Mint, Custom
House, and other public buildings. The
former City of Panama-seat of the Span
ish colonial Government, and built by the
Spaniards in 151S-stood six miles north
east of the present city, and is now dis
NAL heap OF ruins. That rascally bucan-
} eer, Sir Henry Morgan, destroyed it in
1910, and soon afterward the existing city
} was begun.
In Panama harhor the daily rise and
, fall of the tide is from twenty to twenty
seven feet, making it particularly we'll
, fitted for the building and repairing of
ships. Both at Panama and Aspinwall
) (the other end Of the railway there is a
. British landing, as well as an American
landing, for both countries send numerous
| ships to either terminus of the railroad,
| designed to connect with those of the same
line of vessels which arrive at stated inter
walls on the opposite sides of the Isthmus,
! the all-important railway transferring
freight and passengers from one to the
: other. FANNIE B. WARD.