186 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



verdure which tropical climes produce. The tama- 

 rind, the date, the pomegranate, the plantain, the 

 banana, the cocoanut, the lime, the citron, and the 

 pine apple, arc abundant. Flowers of every hue send 

 forth their fragrance upon the air, rendering its sweet- 

 ness delightful to the senses. Orange groves are 

 numerous, and the fruit is as plentiful as the apple of 

 the Southern States of the Union. Mountains, hills, 

 and valleys diversify the prospect, while the ear is 

 filled with the melodious notes of thousands of birds, 

 native of the tropics, their music contrasting with the 

 discordant noise of the parrots, mackaws, and chat- 

 tering monkeys. Such a scene is worth the travel to 

 the Isthmus, and the toils sometimes endured in cross- 

 ing it. 



Several small towns and ranches are scattered 

 along the banks of the river. The first is Gatun, ten 

 or twelve miles above Chagres. About ten miles 

 further is Dos Hermano; further on, Puro Blanco, 

 and Palenquilla last, about two-thirds of the way to 

 Gorgona. These are stopping places for the canoes, 

 where refreshments and supplies can be procured. 



At night, parties that land are compelled to build 

 fires to keep off the wild beasts and venomous ser- 

 pents, which abound in the neighborhood of the river, 

 and to disperse the myriads of insects with which the 

 air teems. Alligators of a large size, are to be seen 

 lying on the banks in the day time, basking in the 

 sun. Above Palenquilla are some powerful currents, 

 which it requires considerable toil to move against. 

 The river is in some places a half a mile wide, and 

 in others, not more than thirty yards. The boatmen 

 are exceedingly indolent, and require constant driving 

 and coaxing to keep them moving; but sometimes, 



