CHAGRES. 



265 



without accident^ though going full six miles 

 an hour.* 



It began as usual to rain as the day de- 

 clined ; when, upon suddenly rounding a little 

 headland, the Castle of Chagres, with its flag, 

 appeared in view ; under which, on the margin 

 of a bay, was also visible a long line of low 

 houses built close to the river, and backed by 

 trees and marshy ground. There were two 

 schooners at anchor within a stone^s throw of 

 the houses. One American, the other English ; 



* The Jamaica Steam Navigation Company have re- 

 cently sent three steamers to the West Indies, to be 

 employed mainly between Kingston and New Granada. 

 A most important advantage will thus be gained in com- 

 municating with the Isthmus of Panama, as steamers can 

 navigate the river Chagres as far as the mouth of the 

 Trinidad, without meeting with the slightest obstruction. 

 Nothing but a commonly good road would be requisite from 

 this point of disembarkation in the Chagres to Panama, 

 to enable the land communication to be completed in 

 three or four hours. Sailing vessels cannot ascend the 

 Chagres on account of the strong current and the serpen- 

 tine channel of the river, independently of the want of 

 water in the dry season. In the rainy season they might 

 be towed by steamers beyond or into the river Trinidad. 



VOL. II. N 



