Year: 1871

Pacific ocean. A few miles farther the
cathedral towers and ruined Notifications
of Panama are in sight. Wesoon enter
the spacious depot and pass on board
lighter craft for the Colorado at anchor
some three miles out in the Bay. The
next day we stop over for the English
steamer to come up from Chill A com
papy of us hire boat and couple OF
natives to row us ashore for visit to the
city Of Panama. This city is situated
on the bay or gulf of the same name
and strangely erected on rocky penin-
sular.


We pass around long barrow coral
reef, over which the sea breaks continu-
ally. 1t would not be difficultto open
passage through this reef for vessels
which have TO pass long way round
As our boat comes to the shore, we are
obliged to be expeditions in order to step
out the boat and get on land without
getting drenched by the surf that dashes
against the rocks ana beech. The old


fortified sea wall arose before us to the


highth of some eighteen feet. Portions


of it on our left were undermined and


lying in the sea. Bushes found root in


many places. The few old cannon that


remained here as we'll as those of Porto


Bello, were sold few years ago by gov


ernment at twenty-three cents per pound


as their metal was excellent. A gentle


man informs us that many years ago


number of the cannon here were taken


and transported into the mountains and


buried up to prevent their being seized


by one of the many piratical fleets that


formerly infested these waters. The


government sought recently to remove


them, but their place of burial having


been overgrown with trees of large size


and other difficulties rendering it hardly


possible to get at them, their recovery


has been given up: We pursue our way


through narrow streets, which are well


paved. The corners of many of the


sidewalks are protected by some of the


balls such as were formerly used in Span


ish cannon. Ruined cathedrals are on


all the principal streets. The one before


US has only its walls standing, and high


up on the top of its tower, vegetation has


began and trees Ijudge of five or six in


ches in diameter, we're growing finely


/, another part of the city chime is


being played that breaks on our ears in


discordant notes. There are many


dwellings whose curious tiled roofs are


becoming overgrown with the swift grow
| ing vegetation of the tropics Some very


beautiful pearls were exhibited in the


shop windows. Quite revenue is de-
rived from the Pearl fishery here. The
time allotted us being nearly expired we


hasten to our boat. Seeing the predica-
ment we were in on landing the natives
take us singly pickapack" through the
surf and all passes off well.


J We shall write briefly of the Pacif-
J ic portion of our trip. Early the next
, morning the Colorado gets under way.
J The first few days out huge rocks rose


up out of the ocean and waves foamed
around them many feet high. The Sec
! ond day the peaceful Pacifc is in rage
} at the pranks of her brother Wind.
While this commotion is taking place old
Neptune demands for the second time
J his tribute in which most of us are fore
ed to acquiesce. Land now appears on
: the starboard side, consisting of high
J mountains that border the coast of Gau-
J temala. The cone of Mt. Izaloc can plain.
) ly be seen partially enveloped in smoke
9 and vapor. A dull reddish glare is re.
hected from its summit. Mt Del Fuego
} about two miles high we pass thesucceed
{ ing mig t. Its view from our steamers
$ deck is grandly magnificent. The heav
; ems in this volcanic vicinity are all aglow
, Del Fuergo's roar at times is terrific
$ We left several passengers at San Jose
The waves break at this point Of the
r coast necessarily with deafning sound
+ This latitude is famons for the number
1 of whales. In calm weather scarcely
!. an hour of the day passes but that one
i or more can be seen blowing out water
: like jet. Porpoises and the phosphor
S escent glow of the ocean at night, hav,
S ceased to elicit remarks. We touched a
D Acapulco about midnight on the seventh
t day out from Panama. Eighteen ol
J, more dugouts lit up with torches fill
i ed with natives who came out to sci
# fruit. shells &c. The moon lights up the
!, high mountain SUBMITS that arise behinc
a this city making scene of imposing sub
g Unity and grandeur. The Mexican
: coast now becomes exceeding forbid
IS ding. Perpendicular rocks rise to the
s height of from twenty to two hundred
e feet like a massvie wall. Some wert