170 THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 



dable works usually to be seen upon the entrance of 

 the old Spanish ports ; yet, with its white sand beach, 

 skirted with cocoanut trees, it makes an exceedingly 

 pleasant impression. On entering the harbor the 

 sailing course is along parallel with the breakwater, 

 about four miles, to Kingston, which lies on the main 

 coast upon the left hand. The harbor, in its whole 

 length, is about five miles, and, on an average, I 

 should think two w T ide. Kingston is a fair sample of 

 an old Spanish town going to decay, with here and 

 there a prop from English enterprise, contrasting 

 strongly with everything native. The population is 

 said to be about 60,000 or 70,000, mostly Creoles 

 and negroes, with here and there an English face, 

 that does not seem altogether at home. 



Scarcely had our ship made fast before a swarm 

 of little imps appeared in the sea about her, calling 

 out to the passengers, " Massa, give me a dime ?" 

 While wondering how the request could be complied 

 with, if so benevolently inclined, some one w T ill teach 

 the lesson by skipping one at as great a distance as 

 possible from them, to see the sport of their struggle 

 to obtain it, which they are sure to do, by turning 

 in the water with the expertness of an eel, and fol- 

 lowing the course of the glittering coin, w T hich is 

 usually grasped before it reaches the bottom, and 

 exhibited on rising to the surface, and then stowed, 

 away in the mouth. The pier was soon loaded w r ith 

 baskets of every conceivable size and shape, contain- 

 ing oranges, lemons, mangoes, and many other fruits 

 and nuts, while bananas, pine apples, &c, were 



