124 Scientific Intelligence. 
up to the mouth of the Ronee varying from 400 feet to 900 feet in 
height, and having a few peaks of still greater elevation. e space 
comprised between these fired principal ridges is full of a multitude of 
smaller ones, which form the channels of the rivers Agua Lucia, pn 
Aqua Clara, which fall into the Chagres, and of the Grande, Guanche, 
and Buenaventura, which discharge ‘themselves into the Atlantic. 
The gold washings of Santa Rita are situated on the central branch, 
between the rivers Clara and Grande. - From the summit of the central 
Cordillera, at Santa Rita, (which was the direction of my third journey 
across the Isthmus,) a commanding view is obtained of the chain, 
from the elevated point of eeparation to the east, as far as Portobello, 
and, on the other side, of the whole length of coast of the Atlantic, 
as far as Chagres, and from wence to the | Cordillera, in the vicinity . 
g on this elevated and dense mass of mountains, which in- 
tervene bérteaeh Portobello and Panama, deeply furrowed by so many 
struct any thing resembling a commodious road, diagonally from Porto- 
bello, I examined the Cordillera i in the rear of Portobello; and it appears 
ing the rivers near their sources, and gradually descending along the 
of the south side, towards Cruces, or any other dénvenient point on 
it River Chagres. ‘The peones sometimes follow this direction, which 
is called the new road, and it is, doubtless, preferable to that of the 
Boqueron. ‘The aiemtiee? from Portobello to Panama, in a direct line, is 
about 40 miles ; by the Boqueron, including the turnings, 60; by the 
top of the Cordilleras, including ace ns ni turns, 58 ; rom Chagres, 
along the River Gorgona, 42, and from Gorgona to to Panama, 19=—61;. 
from the Bay of Limon, along ihe sa + baek of the Chagres, by Gor- 
na, to Panama, 35 miles. The last is the most direct and? shortewe 
road, and the one which appears to me to present fewer obstacles 
than any other to the formation of a railroad across the Isthmus. ‘The 
ped of Limon is equally the only port, besides” Portobello, bg to 
; purpose, on the Atlantic coast, within the described limits. 
The asthe Hemet part of the prin cipal chain to the south of the 
agres, near Gorgona, is divided into a number of conical mountains ; 
but, Siren on, einen cle centre of Trinidad, they unite into a cor- 
dillera, of au average elevation of 500 fe et. se ie space e between this” 
‘dal mourtaqtie An opinion prevailed, ol there existed intl 
cn simply revit locks * Cores) at each Stlvmien ‘but thi s alla- 
