THE ROAD TO BOLIVIA 



211 



Ol'EXIMi rEARI. OYSTEILS- 



Panama is one of the oldest and quaintest towns in America. 

 Santo Domingo antedates it a few years, Init it was the first settle- 

 ment on ilerra firme, and the ruins of the original cit}^ still lie on the 

 shore of the bay four miles south as they were left by Morgan, the 

 famous buccaneer, who Inirned and blew up 7,000 houses. The pres- 

 ent city dates back to 1678. In 1840 it was the i)rincipal station on 

 the route to California. In 1879 the Frenchmen came with their 

 millions, and everyl^ody had money to burn. Then, after a hysterical 

 period, Panama settled down to the sleepy existence which it still 

 retains. The harbor is l)eautirul, and a grouj) of islands lying about 

 two miles from the city is the head(juarters of several steamship com- 

 panies which fiii'iiish transportation facilities for the west coast of 

 America. 



The voyage from Panama south is one of the most fascinating and 

 comfcM'table that the salt water allbrds. ^'ou arc always sure of fine 

 weather, fine ships, and a good sea. it never rains, it never blows, 

 and the swell is not heavy enough to make ordinary i)eople seasick. 

 From Guayafpiil to Valparaiso the passengers are almost always in 



