414 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



ness of labour in Nicaragua will equalize any advanta- 

 ges and facilities that exist here. 

 The estimate is, 



From the lake to the east end of the tunnel, from $8,000,000 to 10,000,000 



Descent to the Pacific 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 



From the lake to the Atlantic, by canal along the 



bank of the river _ . 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 



$20,000,000 to 25,000,000 



vrhich is but about the sum contemplated as the cost of 

 our enlarged Erie Canal. 



The idea of a communication between the Atlantic 

 and Pacific is not new. Columbus wore out the last 

 days of his checkered life in searching for a natural pas- 

 sage, and the vastness and sublimity of the enterprise 

 suited the daring imagination of the early Spaniards. 



From the formation of the continent and the falling 

 off in height of the range of the Andes, it has ever since 

 engaged the attention of reflecting men. Even during 

 the deathlike sleep of Spanish dominion a survey was 

 made under the direction of the captain-general ; but the 

 documents remained buried in the archives of Guati- 

 mala until the emancipation of the colonies, when they 

 were procured and published by Mr. Thomson, who 

 visited that country under a commission from the British 

 government.^ 



In 1825 an envoy extraordinary from the new repub- 

 lic of Central America called to it the special attention 

 of our government, requesting our co-operation in pref- 

 erence to that of any other nation, and proposed, by 



♦ Thomson's Guatimala. By this survey the wofk appears much more easy 

 than by Mr. Bailey's, but it purports to have been taken by the water level. Mr. 

 Bailey knew of its existence, and had been the means of procuring it for Mr. 

 Thomson. 



