Year: 1871

in their ways, and insist upon their better halves
a"ing nearly all the WORK while they themselves
'lie On' IN their hammOcks and smoke almost the
entire day. The women 1t must be confessed, are
decidedly nnprepossessing, being short and stumpy
perch upon them But, like other ladies Of all ma
IONS they have their fashions the most striking OF


are s Te1 neg sney wear tns
ana are not likely to be worn in New
6lueish color but oon,radis1ne.on eus IS TO the
shorten apparel below IN order a s orac
let's may receive their due share OF admiration The
children, from fifteen years down, nude-a state
which they seem to enjoy exceedingly. Fruits grow
in abundance. while there is no lack OF excellent
game, so that in many respects the Indians are wei


After fair nights rest Commander Selfridge
sent despatch to the secretary OF the Navy
of the men, named Emerson, who had been taken
sick and was unable TO return and who accom-
panied by a few Indians proceeded. in canoe nired
Tor the purpose, up the Tuyra river through the
Gull OF san Miguel and thence to Panama
have already sent by telegraph the sub.
stance Of the despatch, which set fortn that line
had been discovered the height OF the divide
at the highest estimate being 800 feet. The follow
ing day commander Selridge and party, after max
Ing a hasty reconnaissance, took their departure
from Paya and reached the Rock river where they
across the hills and the party soon Came to that
part OF the Cacarica where the scew had been eft
and, entering It, the oarsmen went to work with
VIII, ana, favored by the rapidly flowing current,
the little craft shot along in good STYLE Ashort dis
tance before coming to the Iona dc Carcarica they





lett behind, ana who, exceedingly short OF prov
Aons, had determined to make their way to Paya


em ship IN seaoh Of fu the ss bena e1
much concerned at their prolonged absence,
n9, ana the np parties rIssr now ong Together started
they finally reached, without difficulty on the nth Of
January; But the energy, perseverance and indom-
hls long, fatigung journey to Paya could not be ex.
ercised without some sacrifice. Buoyed up with the
excitement OF the exploration the nardships which
ne endured on the way had not had time to develop
their wasting results upon his active frame. Now
however, that anxiety was partly dlspelled and that
there was comparatively some ease experienced IN
going down the current In the launch, the FEVER for
winch good foundation had been laid when pod-
ding through the swanps burst full upon him on the
way, and before the launch came alongside Guard
he was Frustrated by the disease kest and careful
treatment, however, soon worked wonders, and 1t
Is satisfactory to know that he has now recovered
and Is as anxious and sangulne as ever about the
success OF the expedition. herewith enclose map
showing the route and the present line OF survey,
which was specially prepared for me by Commander
diatey up to the divide What the result win be it
Is impossible to sae, but may be mentioned that
Monday morning Lieutenant Comm ander Scnulze
and party OF men will start to hire canoes and
laborers at Sucio on the Atrato. Several interme-
date routes Will in the meantlme be tried, SO that
nothing will be left undone to render the entire sur
vey complete as possible.


RETURN OF ANOTHER EXPLORING PARTY.


Satisfied that many unexplored rivers flowed into
the Atrato. through which perhaps more feasible
route than by the Cacarica could be obtained,
party was ordered to proceed towards the Paran-
cnita river in the hope that the divide might be
found even lower than that discovered twenty-five
miles IRON Paya. on the 23d uL Mr. Barnes civil
engineer; Mr. HOLMAN, assistant engineer and a
party OF men passed through the Cano Coginta, the
narrow channel previously mentioned, that runs
into the Atrato, which river was assembled at about
i've miles distant from the Guard. Following the
course OF the Atrato for forty mes the
party reached the mouth OF the Cacarlca
and continuing the latter stream for three
miles they reached the highest point to which the
steam launch could ascend as the river there Is en-.
trey covered with the heavy sod, two feet IN thick
ness, and covered with dense mass OF coarse
grass with water beneath to the depth OF thirty or
forty feet and curr~nt feur five feet nigh.
From this point the journey was TO be made IN =
canoe as far as practicable, and thence on foot The
known the Iona de Carcarica, to which have
already referred. The whole summit is covered
with one oil the peculiar ranches of the country
namely open snantle5 of poles and thatched with
pain leaves. The sides are so precipitous that
1t Is only accessible at one end. II is inhabited
at present by five or SIX men and
one OF the five wives OF which the
guide acknowledged himself the happy proprietor.
Alter breakfast the party started early III order to
reach hard land before nghtall. The grassy river
extends Tor about three quarters Of a miie which
the explorers got past 10y detour through the
swamp, when they again came into the river, open
broad and very deep. which extends for distance
oil 1--WE miles, ending abruptly in lake mile IN di-
aineter, with u uniform depth OF twenty-five feet
TINS lake-wnlch. constantly forming with the wa
ters OF river with an average width OF 200 ieet
depth OF thirty feet ana current OF more than u
nnle per hour--has no apparent Inlet. difficult
navigation through the woods Tor hall "A
m!e brought the party W the RIVER Ria