160 APPENDIX. 



Panama. 



Including Chiriqui and Veraguas, this province is estimated to contain 34,000 square 

 miles. The volcano of Chiriqui is 11,265 feet high, or barely 250 feet lower than the 

 highest point in Costa Kica ; but at the Isthmus itself the highest point along the line 

 of the railroad between the two oceans is only about 330 feet. Seemann and Sutton- 

 Hayes are the two principal collectors of the 1550 species recorded from this province ; 

 and the former wrote a ' Flora Panamensis *, from which we extract those portions of 

 his " Introduction " relating to geographical botany in its widest sense. 



" The isthmus is not distinguished for high mountains. The mighty chain of the 

 Andes, after traversing the continent of South America, decreases when approaching 

 this narrow neck of land, and in the province of Panama is hardly recognizable in a 

 ridge of hills seldom exceeding 1000 feet in height. On entering Veraguas the 

 Cordillera attains a greater elevation, and in the volcano of Chiriqui presents the most 

 elevated part of the isthmus, a peak 7000 feet high f . The ridge is covered with forests, 

 and is chiefly confined to the central and northern districts. The coast of the Pacific 

 Ocean, especially in the cantons of Nata, Santiago, and Alanji, abounds in grassy plains 

 or savanas of great extent, which, by affording pasture to numerous herds of cattle, 

 constitute the principal riches of the country. Volcanos, all now extinct, rise in 

 different parts ; the highest is the Chiriqui ; another about 3000 feet in elevation, called 

 the Janano, is at Cape Corrientes in Darien, and several others are reported to exist 

 in Veraguas ; even the island of Taboga has been considered as a portion of a crater. 

 But, though destitute of active volcanos, the isthmus by no means enjoys an immu- 

 nity from earthquakes. Some rather severe shocks, coming from the west, and having 

 apparently their origin in Central America, are now and then experienced, especially 

 during the dry season ; but they do not seem to exercise any baneful influence on the 

 vegetation, as is the case in Peru, where, after severe shocks, corn-fields have been 

 known to wither. 



" With the exception of the higher mountains, where the temperature is comparatively 

 low, the climate is hot and rainy. The seasons are distributed into wet and dry. The 

 rains commence with the appearance of the new moon in April, and are, in the begin- 

 ning, mere passing showers ; but they gradually increase, and are fully established 

 towards the end of May, when they fall in torrents, sometimes for days together in 

 succession, and are accompanied by thunder and lightning of the most terrific descrip- 

 tion. Save a few days about the 24th of June, the Veranito de San Juan, the rains 

 continue for eight months, until the end of December ; and in Southern Darien and 

 some parts on the Atlantic side they last almost the whole year. During this time 

 fogs, calms, and light variable winds prevail, and the air is loaded with so much 



* Botany of the Voyage of H.M.S. < Herald,' pp. 62-73. 



t This is far wrong, according to later measurements. See preceding paragraph. 



