



CHAPTEE XXI. 



Leaving Bujio Soldado — A Day on the Chagres River — Arrival at 

 Navy Bay — Visiting the Minde Swamp — Native Cooking — Gather- 

 ing Cocoanuts, &c., &c. 



After three months' confinement to professional du- 

 ties at Bujio Soldado, I packed up to be ready for 

 the first opportunity to come down the river to Navy 

 Bay. A recent attack of fever had exhausted, in a 

 good degree, my small stock of vitality, and I there- 

 fore resolved to take the steamer, and thus avoid the 

 liability of being subjected to a night on the river, 

 in an open boat, with the chances of a drenching 

 rain. There are but three steamers on the Hio 

 Chagres, that go up as high as Gorgona, and it was 

 seldom that they ever stopped at the railroad sta- 

 tions. After having waited patiently for six days, 

 the glad sound of the whistle of the steamer Mille, 

 announced her approach, on her way down, she hav- 

 ing passed up two days previous. I was soon on 

 board, with a dozen laborers from the station, who 

 had served out their time, and for the first time, per- 

 haps, for weeks, were made to look cheerful, from 

 the thoughts of home, each having been furnished 

 with a certificate, wHich entitled him to a free 



