172 THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 



On arriving at Spanish Town, distant thirteen 

 miles from Kingston, we took a vehicle and requested 

 to be drove to the best hotel in the place, and accord- 

 ingly were soon left upon the veranda of an old 

 building that was evidently more worn out by time 

 that use. At first we were in doubt whether or not 

 the place was inhabited, but finally a boy appeared 

 to w\hom we gave our order for a dinner for three. 

 The idea seemed to astonish him at first, but he 

 finally recovered his composure, and soon the pre- 

 parations were seen in a state of progress. Our din- 

 ner w T as really a good one, for which a formidable 

 bill of items was presented, amounting in all to 

 11. 10s. 6d. sterling. Travellers may always be sure 

 that if they order anything here, without stipulating 

 a price, it will be " calculated" they are able to pay 

 a large one. 



On our way to the depot, we strolled through the 

 public square, which occupies one block, and faced 

 upon the four sides by the public buildings, which 

 are as quaint and old as need be, yet erected with a 

 good deal of pretence to elegance, originally. In 

 front of one, which I took to be the Governor's pa- 

 lace, were two more of the sable race in regimentals 

 — yet evidently for custom's sake, for they w T ere the 

 only individuals in sight, although we walked about 

 the square, examining the flowers and plants (for it 

 is a garden) nearly half an hour. We left the city, 

 feeling that it had, indeed, been deserted. 



