TOE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 127 



that a great similarity exists in the different parts of 

 the town, although some districts are far more ele- 

 gant than others. 



The great repugnance of the Havanoes to the 

 adoption of the customs and improvements of other 

 nations, is exhibited in their adherence to the rude 

 style of their vehicles. The most peculiar of all is 

 the volante, which is, no doubt, the exact contrivance, 

 without improvement or modification, that a mule 

 was first attached to, but with us has been short- 

 ened, and reduced to the modern gig. The appear- 

 ance of this vehicle is very ludicrous, with its large 

 wheels and long shafts, which hang suspended by 

 the side straps of a saddle upon one of the small 

 native horses, and mounted by the driver, while the 

 "top," or covered seat, is placed at a considerable 

 distance forward of the wdieels, and thus the poor 

 animal is compelled to the double task of hauling as 

 well as bearing his burden. Not liking to exhibit a 

 preference for the natives' taste and notions of ele- 

 gance in this particular, we stepped into a New 

 York made omnibus, drawn by a pair of horses, evi- 

 dently not of the islands' growth, and rode out three 

 miles through the suburbs of the city, to near the 

 bishop's palace and garden. 



This garden contains about 60 acres, and it is 

 hardly possible to conceive of a greater variety, or 

 more luxuriant vegetation, than is here presented to 

 the eye at every step for miles in the course of its 

 many varying walks and drives. The royal palm 

 is the principal and most beautiful of the many 



