of an Orchid Hunter 



2 i 7 



presented to Colon by the Empress Eugenie in the 

 time of her power. Although at the time we passed 

 Colon the actual work of the canal was suspended for 

 want of capital, the seven miles already open for traffic 

 were busy with boats and small steamers, while the 

 sides were stocked with machinery and workshops. 

 As the Royal Mail ships lie here three or four days, 

 travellers have time to take the train across the 

 isthmus to the town of Panama, the Pacific entrance 

 to the canal. In the journey a good idea may be 

 formed of the work of excavating which is bein^ 

 done ; and the scenery is good, while the town is very 

 much more commodious than Colon. 



At Colon we were obliged to tranship to the 

 homeward-bound mail, the ss. Tagus, everyone being 

 sorry to leave the excellent and kindly captain of 

 the Essequibo, Captain Buckley. The Tagus was 

 soon on its way to Jamaica. The mosquitoes and 

 the bad climate, together with the filth and disorder 

 of Colon, made everyone glad that the stay here 

 was not loneer. So much has been written from 

 time to time about the beautiful island of Jamaica 

 that there is no need here for me to do more than 

 merely mention the port. Sailing along the coast, we 

 soon come in sight of the shallows and the jutting 

 projection with the fortifications called Port Royal 

 As the waves dash up on the sandy beach the strong 



