114: THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 



true, that small steamers, of light draught, go up as 

 far as Gorgona, but it is only for a part of the sea- 

 sou, aud they can never be relied upon ; and the 

 same obstacles are to be contended with on the River 

 San Juan. 



The last route described above is now being im- 

 proved for the transit of passengers to and from Cal- 

 ifornia, with a line of steamships upon the Atlantic 

 and Pacific, connecting with it. Mr. Vanderbilt is 

 the pioneer in this work, and I have seen it stated 

 that a large sum has already been invested in steam- 

 boats for the San Juan river and Lake Nicaragua, 

 and other means necessary to facilitate the transit of 

 passengers ; but of the success of the enterprise we 

 have yet to learn. The public has already been en- 

 tertained by numerous and diverse statements con- 

 cerning the character of this route, comparing it 

 with that across the Isthmus of Panama. Some 

 have described it as much the best, while the ac- 

 counts of others preclude the possibility of anything 

 like comfort, representing the whole journey as a 

 series of miseries. The most glowing fancy has been 

 indulged in describing the " magnificent" scenery of 

 the river, lake, and mountain pass. 



A recent author of a newspaper article has even 

 stated that he thinks this route would be prefer- 

 able, were the Panama railroad completed ; but it 

 may reasonably be supposed, that such writers have 

 never had their enthusiasm dampened by exposure 

 to the rainy season, and that they have not fully 

 considered that on the very ground from which 



