THE ISTHMUS. 



221 



Panama^ in order to travel more leisurely over 

 the ground in conscious safety. 



I left Panama at a later hour in the day than 

 I intended. The vice-consul had been so good 

 as to volunteer his company as far as Cruces^ 

 and as he was not ready at the time appointed, 

 the sun was becoming intolerable before we 

 set out. By losing so much time I felt con- 

 vinced that we should have to encounter tor- 

 rents of rain before our arrival at the river 

 Chagres. In fact, the rainy season having 

 thoroughly set in within the last few days of 

 my detention at Panama, there was no longer 

 any chance of escaping a soaking after twelve 

 p.m., except under a roof. A further impedi- 

 ment to starting arose from the drunkenness 

 of the muleteer, which rendered him almost 

 incapable of loading the baggage-mules. Mr, 

 Russell appeared in the street upon a miserable 

 hack, and I descended from my apartment to 

 mount another which I thought I was almost 

 as able to carry myself as he was to bear my 



