PANAMA. 



215 



whence a scrambling journey is made through 

 forests and thickets^ by the most difficult moun- 

 tain-paths^ up to Bogota. There is also an- 

 other road from Guayaquil by Quito. This last 

 country was formerly part of Columbia^ but it 

 has now become a separate state like Venezviela^ 

 and is called from its vicinity to the Une^ El 

 Ecuador^ and forms the southern boundary of 

 New Granada. The isthmus of Panama extends 

 east and west^ and after passing the western 

 frontier, enters the states of Central America, 

 which embrace all the intervening country be- 

 tween the isthmus and Mexico. 



Although trade has languished at Panama 

 since the revolution, the greater part of the 

 natives of the isthmus, are still engaged in 

 foreign commerce. Some are anxious for a rail- 

 road to Portobelio, others for a canal from the 

 Pacific into the river Chagres, and all desire 



