202 



PANAMA. 



much longer in so unhealthy a place, I may 

 have no better hope, than like them to be " by 

 strangers honoured, and by strangers mourned/^ 

 24th. — I am often kept awake half the night 

 by the incessant uproar of mulatto and negro 

 dancers, in a neighbouring cabaret. I can 

 hear the house shake as they move, not on 

 the light fantastic toe,^^ to the monotonous 

 sound of a cracked guitar, and a whistling fla- 

 gelet. These are accompanied moreover by 

 the rattling of a gourd half full of stones, 

 another very favourite source of music in con- 

 certo at Panama. Add to this, screams of 

 delight, and high jumps for joy, which tell pro-- 

 digiously on the floor of the room, and make 

 a tout ensemble of noises, quite overpowering. 

 This amusement goes on with scarcely any 

 interval, from eleven at night until four in the 

 morning* 



