THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA, 45 



Porto Bello was the next place of importance, but 

 it has now sunk far beneath what Panama ever was, 

 without any hope of being again resuscitated. Its 

 population is about one thousand, and mostly ne- 

 groes. It w r as contemplated at one time to make this 

 place the northern terminus of the Panama Railroad, 

 but the route from here was found not to be a fea- 

 sible one, and consequently the idea was abandoned 

 for the much better location at Navy Bay. 



The American town of Chagres, which lies on the 

 west side of the river, may contain six or eight hun- 

 dred inhabitants. The place was built up to meet 

 the wants of the travelling public, and consequently 

 it is as temporary in its appearance as could be 

 imagined. With the opening of the port at Navy 

 Bay, it must necessarily be abandoned for the want 

 of support. Upon the opposite side, immediately 

 under and behind the high rocky point upon which is 

 built the fort of San Lorenzo, is situated the native 

 town of Chagres,which is little else than a collection of 

 miserable reed huts, thatched with palm-leaf. There 

 are a few, more respectable in appearance and com- 

 fortable, with earthen tiles, but all alike are without 

 floors. The walls are sometimes plastered over in a 

 rude way, but usually left open, and they have only 

 a mat suspended for a door. The houses are built 

 quite compactly, and in rows, not more than from 

 fifteen to twenty feet apart; and a walk through 

 these narrow streets, with the views inside, will be 

 likely to present some very novel spectacles to the 

 stranger. The little natives, of both sexes, rurning 



