On a Communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 325 



indicated in the note as belonging to the isthmus of Pananict, and that 

 across the isthmus of Cupica, appear to be possessed of the requisite ad- 

 vantages. With respect, indeed, to the lines of communication formed 

 between the northern coast of the isthmus of Panama and the southern 

 shores of the bay of that name, we have sufl&cieut arguments against them 

 in the testimony of Humboldt himself; who, while advocating the construc- 

 tion of a canal in this direction, admits that the bottom of the bay is so 

 shallow, that " a canal issuing at Panama would require to be carried out 

 into the sea to a distance of at least two leagues, in consequence of the 

 shallowness of the water, as far as the isles of Flamingo and Perico, the 

 depth to this distance not exceeding a few feet."* 



Independent, however, of the objections arising from this want of depth 

 of water in the bottom of the bay, which precludes not only the approach 

 of ships of burthen, but even of any other than flat-bottomed boats ; the 

 elevation of the ridge of partition, which traverses the isthmus as far as the 

 right bank of the river Chuchunque or Tuyra, which falls into the head 

 of the gulph of St. Michael, opposes obstacles the existence of which 

 Humboldt does not question, although he labours to diminish their amount. 



The first point, therefore, which appears to present the fewest and least 

 formidable obstacles, is that between the gulph of St. Michael and the 

 Ensenada di Anachachuna, already spoken of. 



The ridge of partition, the elevation of which has unfortunately been in 

 no one place determined, either by barometical or geodesical measurement, 

 after following a direction nearly parallel to the shores of the bay, a little 

 to the east of the seventy-eighth degree of longitude west of Greenwich, 

 abruptly terminates on the northern bank of the river Tuyra, at the head 

 of the gulph of St. Michael ; leaving a tract of perfectly level country, for 

 the space of more than one degree of latitude from north to south. Fol- 

 lowing the river Tuyra from the point of its junction with the gulph, in its 

 south-eastern angle, as it coasts the southern termination of the ridge of 

 partition, we come to a division of its waters ; one branch of which comes 

 from the south-east, v\ hilc the other follows the course of the ridge, washing 

 the base of its eastern and northern slope, till it approaches within an 

 apparently short distance of the northern coast, a little to the west of 

 Cape Tiburon. 



Were it practicable to connect tliis river by a canal or rail-road with the 

 Carribcan sea, and to render its channel navigable for vessels of moderate 

 burthen into the gulph of St. Michael ; this would be in many respects 

 the most eligible point of communication, which could be desired : but in 

 the absence of all accurate siiiveys of this part of the country, and every 

 thing like data even for hypothesis, it is impossible to do more at present 

 than indicate this as a point of considerable promise, and one well worth 

 the expense and trouble of an accurate survey. 



• Personal Narrative, vol. vi. p. 240, note. 

 No. ;"».— Vol. I. 2 u 



