CjjEpbr Imttijr. 
PANAMA—CATHEDRAL AND CONVENTS—RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES—AMALGAMATION—FAN¬ 
DANGO. 
Panama, under the Spanish dominion, was a city of twelve 
thousand inhabitants, and was the commercial mart of the 
Pacific. The old city having been destroyed by buccaneers, 
the present site was selected. The military strength of the city 
is a true index to the state of the country at the time of its con¬ 
struction ; and its present condition a lamentable commentary on 
the ruthless spirit that has pervaded the countries of South 
America. The number and extent of the churches and monas¬ 
teries are a monument to the indomitable zeal and perseverance 
for which the Catholic Church has been justly celebrated. Old 
Panama is seven miles distant. An ivy-grown tower is all that 
remains to mark the spot. The city is inclosed by a wall of 
much strength, outside of which is a deep moat. It has one 
main and one side entrance by land, and several on the water¬ 
side. The base of the wall on the water-side is washed by the 
ocean at flood tide, but at the ebb the water recedes a mile, 
leaving the rocks quite bare. There was formerly a long line 
of fortifications, but at present the guns are dismounted, except¬ 
ing on an elbow of the wall, called the “battery.” (See Plate.) 
In the centre of the town is the main plaza, fronting which is 
the cathedral, the government house, and the prison. (See Plate.) 
Here is seen a “Padre,” walking with a senorita; an “hombre,” 
mounted on a donkey, with a large stone jar on each side, from 
which he serves his customers with water ; a “ chain-gang ” of 
prisoners, carrying bales of carna , guarded by a barefooted 
soldier. And still further to the left is a sentinel watching the 
prison. I will here state, that most of the Panama hats that are 
made here, are manufactured in this prison. 
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