212 



PANAMA. 



CHAPTER X. 



Suggestions relative to Panama — Railroads on the Isth- 

 mus, and steam on the Pacific — Arrival of a sloop of 

 war, and prospect of leaving Panama — Dangers of the 

 wet season — Departure from Panama — Road to the 

 Chagres — The village of Cruces — Practicability of 

 uniting the Pacific and the Atlantic. 



May 1 7th. — There is no news of the man-of- 

 war^ and I believe I shall have to remain here 

 during a part of the unhealthy season^ which has 

 begun. It pours with rain five or six hours in 

 the day^ and the thunder and lightning are 

 awful. The roads are now too wet to make 

 riding agreeable^ for the soil about Panama is a 



