224 



THE ISTHMUS. 



it among the baggage^ and exposed his naked 

 body to the flood. I must admit, however, 

 that he had on a broad-brimmed hat, which 

 served the double purpose of an umbrella and 

 a drinking cup, to which latter use he applied 

 it each time we crossed a stream. 



The road, if so rough a track can be digni- 

 fied with that name, is certainly unique. The 

 distance to Cruces is but twenty-one miles, 

 and there being at present no other communi- 

 cation between Panama and the Chagres, one 

 might reasonably expect that, for so short a 

 journey, it would be kept in something like 

 decent repair. But such is far from being the 

 case. 



It was paved years ago by the Spaniards, 

 since which it has been entirely abandoned to 

 its fate, whilst the rains combined with a con- 

 stant use of it, without repair, have worked 

 numerous holes between the stones, so deep 

 that for several miles at each step our horses 

 were plunging up to their knees. Habit has 



