124 THE ISTHMUS OF TANAMA. 



ish official appeared, and with a decidedly military 

 air, took his place in the captain's room, from which 

 it was announced, that " all those passengers who 

 wish to go ashore, must first walk up to the office 

 and procure their passports." The price was one 

 dollar, in Spanish silver, and although we did not 

 deem it by any means a hospitable invitation to view 

 the city or patronize its hotels and shops, yet we 

 concluded to avail ourselves of the distinguished 

 privilege, and after having read the fearful account 

 of what would be done with those who should be 

 found on her majesty's dominions without this pro- 

 tection, we put the document aside, to learn after- 

 wards that it was seldom ever called for from or- 

 derly people, who confine themselves to their own 

 affairs. 



Before we could effect a transit to the steamship 

 Falcon, on which w T e were to proceed on our way to 

 Chagres, the afternoon had merged into the twilight 

 of evening, and as we sat out upon the open deck 

 that night, with pleasant companions, many tales 

 of other days, and wild adventures on distant lands 

 and seas, were recounted, so that it was not until the 

 flickering lights of the city began to disappear, and 

 the watchword from the ramparts of the Moro, 

 warned us of the night far spent, that we could be 

 induced to leave the delightful starlight scene, and 

 the balmy air that fanned us so gently, for our close 

 quarters below. 



At an early hour on the following morning, our 



