THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 75 



ing the first thing in the morning, and last at night. 

 The cigar is principally used ; which is made by the 

 women, and very mild. 



The mothers seem fond of their children, and 

 manage to raise great numbers of them ; the young- 

 est one is usually found resting on its mother's hip, 

 with its legs clasping her waist, and supported there 

 by the arm carried behind its back ; while the 

 older members of the group are usually occupied 

 with holding their great toes. They manifest, as 

 a class, but very little interest in improvements, and 

 evidently consider a life of indolence the happiest, 

 and have little idea of freedom, except in the per- 

 mission to do as they please. 



The Spanish descendants and Mestizoes of the 

 Isthmus profess to be Catholics ; but they have very 

 limited ideas of a future state, as well as of this, 

 and are apparently as indifferent as they are igno- 

 rant. When sick, they bear it without a murmur, 

 if free from pain ; and if they expect to die, they 

 require to be dressed in their best apparel, possibly 

 with the idea of appearing as resj^ectable as pos- 

 sible in another world, where they all expect to be 

 much happier, and more generously provided for 5 

 than here. 





