43 o Voyage of the Novara. 



the traffic of the line is very small. When, however, the 

 passenger steamer at either end has disembarked her living 

 freight, the Isthmus is all alive, and the coffers of the Com- 

 pany are amply replenished. The number of passengers 

 both ways annually has been estimated at from 36,000 to 

 40,000, and the gross receipts of the Company at from 

 £200,000 to £1,300,000.* 



The fare for the somewhat short distance, 47 miles, is high. 

 There is but one class of carriage, and the charge is £5 5^., 

 besides 10 cents [bd.) for every pound of baggage above 30 lbs. 

 But it must always be borne in mind that enormous diffi- 

 culties had to be overcome in the construction of the line, 

 and that the cost of maintaining the permanent way in any- 

 thing like order is very great, in consequence of the climate 

 and the rich tropical vegetation. Whoever has struggled 

 through the almost impenetrable forests of the Isthmus, before 

 the rail passed through it, and bears in mind the immense 

 physical difficulties of that laborious operation, would thank- 

 fully pay double the sum now charged for performing within 

 an hour or two a journey which often occupied a whole week. 



* In 1859, there were forwarded, according to official documents : 



