46 THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 



about, with their protuberant bellies perfectly naked, 

 certainly offers an odd sight for a Christian. This 

 place is said to contain one thousand inhabitants, 

 many of whom are Jamaica and Porto Bello negroes, 

 who have gone there for employment as boatmen. 



Gatun, which lies upon the west bank of the 

 Chagres river, ten miles above Ohagres, is of much 

 the same character. The population is variously esti- 

 mated from one to two thousand. Upon the oppo- 

 site shore, and a short distance below, is the railroad 

 station, known by the same name. This is the first 

 point at which the railroad touches the river, and is 

 but seven and a half miles from Navy Bay. 



Gorgona is about forty miles from Chagres, in the 

 course of the stream, but probably not more than 

 half that distance in a straight line. This is made 

 the entrepot for goods in transit across the Isthmus 

 by the river. Between Gorgona and Panama, they 

 are conveyed by mules. There are two or three re- 

 spectable forwarding houses and hotels, 6wned by 

 Americans, who are always found courteous and at- 

 tentive to the wants of travellers. The population is 

 said to be about two thousand. Cruces is six miles 

 farther up, and was once a place of considerable im- 

 portance, it being at the head of river navigation and 

 on the paved road from Porto Bello to Panama. 

 During the rainy season the road is much better from 

 Panama to Cruces than to Gorgona, and consequent- 

 ly business is in a measure transferred to this place 

 while the rains continue, and* boats go up without 

 much difficulty. 



