THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 57 



good sea boats, and rigged with sails ; the natives 

 often go between Porto Bello, Navy Bay, and 

 Chagres, with them. Mr. Stephens has given an in- 

 teresting account of a trip he made, of several days 5 

 duration, along the coast of Yucatan, in one of these 

 vessels, and I have been creditably informed that a 

 steam engine was put in one at Panama, and it oper- 

 ated well. 



The most reliable account of the timbers of the 

 Isthmus and their practical utility, is from the pen 

 of Wm. H. Sidell, Esq., who was at one time an 

 engineer on the Panama Railroad. He took great 

 pains to inform himself from persons of experience, 

 who had been several years in the country. Of the 

 timbers of the Isthmus, Mr. Sidell says : 



" It will be seen that the names are nearly all lo- 

 cal, and there is so little similarity to the woods with 

 which we are accustomed, that I cannot attempt to 

 classify them with our timbers. 



" GuachapalL — Is a large tree found in abund- 

 ance ; the timber has something the appearance of 

 oak, and is durable under ground. 



" Macano or Cacique. — Is a crooked tree, and 

 generally of middle size, though sometimes large. 

 It does not readily decay under ground or in the 

 water. Stakes driven fifteen years since, and washed 

 alternately by salt and fresh water, show no signs 

 of change. jEspino Amarillo. — Is not very abund- 

 ant. Is good for constructions in water. The wood 

 is of yellowish color, straight grained and easy to 

 work ; it is of light weight and not liable to decay, 

 4 



