The Sun. — 1856-08-29 (London, England)

PREVOST'S EXPLORATION.  The exploration from the Pacific aide had no connection whatever either with the expedition under Mr. Gisborne or that under Lieut. Strain, awl requires separate notice. Cominander Provost, of her Majesty's steamer Virago, sailed from Panama on Dec. 16, 185 and arrived in the Savana river on the following day. On the 18th he.proceeded up the river with a party of 15, including Messrs. Kennish and Nelson, " volunteers," interested in the rival route via the Atrato, and passing the Lama mouth, the site of Fuerte del Principe, and the mouth of La Villa, he built a rancho a little above the latter. From thence he advanced in a N.N.E. direction, cutting apath as he went. After IL days' journey, in which he had proceeded 22 miles over a level country, crossed by a single ridge from 50 to 60 feet in height, he arrived at the bank of the Chnquanaqua, opposite the month of Mosti. Here, the provisions being much reduced, he sent four men back to the ship, left four at the rancho (No. 10), and proceeded across the river, on his course, with the remaining seven. In the first day's march, on the Atlantic side of the Chuquanaqua, he reached a hill 80, and another 120 feet high. From a tree on the summit of the latter, his native guide, Maria, reported a distant view of the Atlantic to the N. W., and mountains to the N. and N.E. Instead of altering his course to the N.W. he proceeded in the N.N.E. direction, ascended the Cordillera to-an elevation of 800 feet, and then descended it to a river running lute the Atlantic, most probably the Aglaseniqua. His provisions being then nearly exhausted, ho returned to the Chuquaanaqua, though being within a few miles of the Atlantic, and reaching rancho No. 10 on the third day from the date of his leaving the four men there, was horrified to find the bodies of three of them laid across the path. They were shot, stabbed, and had their throats cut. According to the opinion of Dr. Ross, they had been forty-eight hours dead. This dreadful event naturally exciting alarm for their own safety, they returned in haste to the Savana, traversing the country from the Chuquanaquato that river in 18 hours. Commander Prevost then returned on board and sailed for Callao on the 7th of January, 18;4. The Virago returned from Peru, subsequently under Commander Marshal, who fortunately despatched a boat's crew to the rescue of Strain's party. During the whole of his journey Prevost met neither Indian nor habitation ; but, before he detached the four unfortunate men he saw the traces of Indians, and heard a chopping in the bush, and some shots fired. It is deeply to be regretted that he had not sent his native guide, who was an Indian, long domesticated with Granatlians, to ask the consent of the Indians to his entering their territory, and to announce to them the nation he belonged to. Upon my examining the Indians in Caledonia Bty and Sassardi upon the subject of the murders, they stated that the Indians thought the men were Spaniards, seeing they had arms in their possession, and that if they bad known they were Englishmen they would not have harmed thorn. They said that the fourth man was also killed, and that if his body was not to be seen it must have been carried off by a tiger. The Indians of Sueubti arrested the murderers afterwards, and offered to send them to Panama for trial. It has been said that I represented thelndians as friendly: I have said that they are friendly to the English, " out do not allow them to land on the coast."* 1 have always stated that it would be absolutely necessary to get their consent before landing any party on their territory, and it never was anticipated by Mr. Gisborno or the company that any officer would have landed from the Pacific side. It will be seen by the dates that Commander Prevost started on his exploration 35 days, and sailed off again 14 days, before the arrival of the Espiegle ; whereas no vessel was expected ou the Pacific until after the arrival of the expedition on the Atlantic Pid o. 4.