"To California 



dear. We'll sell you a dozen of these fine maps 

 for two dollars each and you can easily sell them 

 in California for ten dollars apiece." I foolishly 

 allowed myself to be persuaded. The maps 

 made a very large, awkward bundle, but for- 

 tunately it was the only baggage I had except 

 my little plant press and a small bag. I laid 

 them in my berth in the steerage, for they were 

 too large to be stolen and concealed. 



There was a savage contrast between life in 

 the steerage and my fine home on the little ship 

 fruiter. Never before had I seen such a barbar- 

 ous mob, especially at meals. Arrived at Aspin- 

 wall-Colon, we had half a day to ramble about 

 before starting across the Isthmus. Never shall 

 I forget the glorious flora, especially for the 

 first fifteen or twenty miles along the Chagres 

 River. The riotous exuberance of great forest 

 trees, glowing in purple, red, and yellow flow- 

 ers, far surpassed anything I had ever seen, 

 especially of flowering trees, either in Florida 

 or Cuba. I gazed from the car-platform en- 

 chanted. I fairly cried for joy and hoped that 

 [187] 



