THE VOYAGE. 1] 



stowed away in the goods-vans of the Panama 

 Railway Company. 



An invitation from the manager of the railway 

 to the Commissioner to sleep at their messhouse 

 was by him gladly accepted ; a favour not ex- 

 tended to myself, so I had to take up my quarters 

 at the ' Howard House.' Now the ' Howard House ' 

 was managed precisely on the same plan as a tra- 

 velling wild-beast show ; the entire attraction was 

 on the outside. The bar-room, brilliantly lighted, 

 and glittering with gilt, glass, and gaudy orna- 

 ments, was open to the street ; an array of rock- 

 ing-chairs, before the pillars supporting the ve- 

 randah, enabled the luxurious lounger to sit 

 with his heels higher than his head, and in smoky 

 abstraction contemplate his toes. The barman, 

 all studs and shirt-front, hardly deigned to 

 answer my request for a bed, but, pointing 

 to the entry-book, said, ' Waal, you'd better 

 sign.' My name duly inscribed on the page 

 of a huge and particularly soiled book, a key 

 was handed me, adorned with a brass label, 

 attached to a chain of like material, with 

 No. 10 on it. ' Guess, stranger, I want a dollar 

 and you jist look here : there are two beds, so 

 if anyone comes along, he'll jist have to room 

 with you.' This I decidedly objected to. ' Waal, 



